KICKING OFF MY ONLINE SHOES THIS WEEK

I'd like to tell you I'm heading off to Santorini or St. Barths or the shores of Trancoso.  But I'm really just kicking off my online shoes for a little break from the virtual world.  Taking time to delve into offline projects and unglue my eyes from glaring screens.  Next week I'll return, oh so ready to welcome Spring.  In the meantime, I leave you with this link to some lovely sunny locales ... and a few archive posts shared on the Style Maniac Facebook Page.  Hope you all have a wonderful week.

BY THE WAY ... To be alerted of new posts automatically, make sure you have subscribed to Style Maniac via email or RSS, or Follow via Google Friend Connect/Blogger Follow. Links in the sidebar.


Oscar de la Renta shoes via Oscar PR Girl

I LIKE NEW YORK IN JUNE ... HOW ABOUT YOU?

UPTOWN: Central Park on a glorious spring day ... the dramatic view from the terrace after a concert at Lincoln Center ... Patricia Field's fun and glamorous Sex & The City 2 windows at Bergdorf Goodman ... the bar at Jean Georges Vongerichten's new mouth-watering and surprisingly affordable restaurant at The Mark Hotel.  DOWNTOWN: The style maniacal yellow doors at The Standard Hotel ... the sublime High Line and views of the Hudson River ... brunch at charming Cafe Gitane in the Meatpacking District.

Mark Bar photo by Julie Glassberg via The New York Times. Cafe Gitane photo by Katie Sokoler via The Gothamist.  All other photos by Doreen Creede.

PHILLY FAVORITE: Greensgrow Farms

From the moment you pass through the chain link fence of Greensgrow Farms delight and magic wash over you.  Grab a little red wagon, pour a cup of coffee and start crunching around the gravel paths to check out the organic produce in the farm market corner, the exotic tropicals in their steamy greenhouse, the cool shade alley, the riotous colors of the annual rows and the incongruity of the chicken pen.  Along the way pester the proprietress Mary with a million questions:  what to plant, when to plant it, what to feed it, where to feed yourself.  She'll answer in detail, never rushed, always making you feel welcome.  Greensgrow's mission is not just to grow plants but to "grow food, flowers and neighbors," and Mary and her team have succeeded, transforming a sour block in a gritty urban neighborhood into an oasis in the city. 

Greensgrow Farms also offers a CSA program, runs a community kitchen, teaches lessons in sustainable agriculture and responsible water use, and holds charming special events throughout the year. Come visit. Greensgrow Farms, 2501 E. Cumberland Street, Philadelphia, PA 19125

SPRING GIFT GUIDE: Brides & Birthdays

Recently I spent a delicious afternoon shopping the inventory of Good To Be You, a website owned by my friend and neighbor Lee Romano Sequeira that's filled with lovely finds for "the pampered princess in all of us." I left with an armful of birthday goodies for family and friends (and, yes, a little something for myself!), and found lots of items that would make perfect bridal shower gifts.  Two of my favorite picks:  the pretty Peacock Shoe Bag (shown above) and the clever Shemergency Survival Kit.  For the entire array visit GoodToBeYou.com.   

As a special perk for Style Maniac readers, take 10% off any item on the website through 6/30/10.  Just use code "STYLE10."  (Thanks, Lee.) Have fun shopping!

iPHONES IN THE GRASS

Couldn't resist--I just had to buy this cute charging station. So much nicer than the typical tangled mess of technology.  Plus it just makes me smile!

Charging Station from kikkerlandshop.com. Discovered in Caroline Tiger's "LifeStyle" column for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

A WEE BIT OF FUN

My favorite variation of The Taming of the Shrew.  The sparkling script and stellar cast never fail to delight--especially Barry Fitzgerald. A Naughton/Creede St. Patrick's Day tradition.  Enjoy yours.

DIVA DVD:  The Quiet Man

MERRY & BRIGHT

 

Another way to use a traditional color like red for Christmas: as an accent to an unexpected scheme of neon-bright hues.

FAVORITE: I just love that Carolyne Roehm coordinates her Christmas wrap to her tree color scheme.  So Style Maniac!

Photos from Style Maniac's Veranda Magazine archives.

SHADY LADY

Not quite the bargain of the Hula umbrella featured last week, but so pretty and whimsical I couldn't resist.

Shadylace Parasol available from droog.com.

EXCURSION: Terrain at Styer's

Welcome to Excursion, a new feature highlighting day trips for Style Maniacs--'cause sometimes a girl just needs a little getaway.

The first time I walked into Terrain at Styer's I felt like I'd entered another world. A world that seemed designed to appeal not just to all my senses but to all my interests. As a decorator I marveled at the execution of the design concept from the broad strokes to the small detail. As a party planner I envisioned a wedding in the pergola on a breezy summer night, fireflies flitting about; or a cozy autumn birthday dinner in one of the cabins, leaves rustling outside. As a reader I wanted to immerse myself in the stacks of books. And as a girl who likes a hot nibble and cold cocktail, the seasonal cafe specials and evening jazz event beckoned.

I could have spent an entire day at the place. Which, I found out, is exactly the idea.

"We wanted to create a real destination, like the garden centers in Europe, where the entire family comes to spend the day together," Terrain's Managing Director John Kinsella told me about the newest retail brand in the Urban Outfitters / Anthropologie family. "With a staff so welcoming that instead of being intimidated people will hang out for six or seven hours. They'll get inspired, learn, and then be able to take what they like with them to re-create at home."

So how does Terrain do it? How do you get customers to linger for hours--and enjoy it? For one, they make the place look cinema-perfect, with delights like this enchanting pergola ...


... and vignettes that seem to have sprung straight from the pages of the design books on display (hello, Axel Vervoordt).


Their buyers travel the globe for one-of-a-kind finds like Egyptian lanterns, antique Indian doors and Swedish garden planters; creating what Senior Merchandise Manager Allison O"Connor calls "a great sense of discovery." (Hmm, can you say "dream job"?)


They encourage that feeling of discovery even more by draping doorways in vines, wood beads or netting; framing glimpses of the next treasure around the corner (like a luxuriant table of orchids) and enticing you to come find them.

They staff the place with people who genuinely seem to like their jobs--and don't mind you peppering them with dozens of questions. And unlike many garden centers that close up come fall, Terrain makes sure your visits continue year-round. As Allison noted, Terrain's "earth to table offerings are all about celebrating the seasons," whether it's the monthly chef dinners or the carefully edited book selection or the smorgasbord of events. (In June, with lavender in bloom, events included lavender skincare treatments, sachet-making classes for kids and a Girls' Night Out that served up lavender growing tips with a side of wine and hors d'oeuvres.)

And then of course there's the flowers. Ah yes, the flowers. Terrain's team of master gardeners and landscape architects makes sure they're picture-perfect, too.


VISIT: Terrain at Styer's
914 Baltimore Pike, Glen Mills PA 19342
phone: 610-459-2400

Check Terrain's website www.terrainathome.com for upcoming events, such as the August Heirloom Tomato Festival.

Photos by Doreen Creede

A BEAUTIFUL MORNING

Now that you have the outfit where will you go for brunch? If you're in Philly go here, preferably during the week to avoid massive crowds and plug into all the Northern Liberties action. If you're in New York City try this charming (and very popular) Tribeca spot. Or with a few trips to Ikea and Target avoid crowds altogether and transform your own backyard into a bright and cheerful brunch spot, like Gina & I did for a Redecorators' Summer in the Citi event for Citibank.

EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK

First the book, then a fabric line and now Tony Duquette's iconic Malachite pattern has shown up in Michael Kors' 2009 Resort collection. I don't know, though, that skirt looks a little too Scarlett O'Hara drapery as a dress to me.


Tony Duquette "Malachite" from Jim Thompson available through The Redecorators LLC, 215-429-2000. Michael Kors photo via NYMag.com.