36 Hours of Living (Very) Glamorously

Thursday dusk, February 2nd

It's been three long years since I last set foot in New York City.

(Gazing north on Lexington Avenue toward the Chrysler Building.

All photographs by Lisa Borgnes Giramonti.)

My friend Michael Silber has generously offered to let me crash in his apartment overlooking Gramercy Park. Actually, "crash" is a poor word choice.

(Living room.)

"Walk around in a langorous, dreamlike state" would be more accurate. The apartment, designed by Tracey Garet in collaboration with Michael, is heartbreakingly beautiful.

(Living room)

(Dining room)

(Detail, living room)

(The guest bedroom. Walls are padded with fabric.)

(The ultra-chic guest bed, cozily tucked into a nook in the wall.)

Thursday evening

I meet bloggers Nick Olsen, Bart Boehlert, Reggie Darling and his spouse, Boy Fenwick, for a drink at the Gramercy Park Hotel. We try repeatedly to go to the rooftop bar but the elevator absolutely refuses to cooperate with us so we squash ourselves into a little corner of the ground floor lounge. (We actually may be lucky. The next day, I recall reading about this in London's Daily Mail.)

Oh, it's fun to finally meet some of the people who have been inspiring me for years. All of them are trés handsome with their own inimitable style: Bart is chic, soft-voiced and gentle, Reggie and Boy are debonair, kind and huge-hearted, and Nick is endearingly -- and wickedly -- funny.

(Gramercy Park Hotel lounge. That's my empty glass of Prosecco.)

Back at Michael's apartment, I reconnect with the sampler he purchased from my art show last year. (Note: No sheep or Ambien needed to sleep tonight.)

Friday morning

I meet my old friend Stephanie for breakfast at Le Pain Quotidien (we shared a loft on Horatio Street in the West Village years ago) and catch up on each other's lives as rapidly as we can in the hour allotted to us. Then it's a dash uptown to meet with a literary agent. I just might have written a book proposal. (And yes, I know how hard it is to get a book deal these days. But a girl can dream, can't she?)

Friday lunch

I race crosstown to the D&D Building to have lunch with designer/magazine publisher Christopher Hyland. His new lifestyle/interiors magazine called Hyland (available as an iPad app HERE) is part World of Interiors, part (new) Architectural Digest, and wholly fabulous. (Very exciting: look for me to be a contributor in future issues.)

Christopher and Kyle Marshall, his editor-in-chief, are kindred souls. Within minutes, we're chatting as if we've known each other for years. (Can't you almost feel their buoyant spirits emanating from this photo?)
Lunch is one fascinating story after another. We talk about, among other things, Christopher's recent pilgrimage to Mount Athos, a medieval monastery in Greece overlooking the Aegean Sea. The monks were badly in need of new vestments, so Christopher donated hundreds of yards of silk fabric to them (see below). I think we can safely assume they must be the chic-est monks on earth, don't you?

I say "assume" because very few of us will ever witness their shining sartorial splendor. (Visiting Mount Athos is beyond difficult. You need a letter of recommendation from the Athens embassy as well as a special permit of entry from the Greek Foreign Ministry, and it's forbidden to all women, children and non-Orthodox Christians. Ah, well. Envisioning them chanting vespers in their finery is pleasure enough.)

Back at Christopher's showroom, I am overcome by all the beautiful fabrics and carpet samples.

See the fabric below? It was created for Napoleon's one night stay at the Villa Pisano in Veneto. Yes, I said one night, people.

Christopher casually points to these and says, "These were a few of Jackie O's favorites." I stop myself from stumbling.

And this one I'm forgetting the story behind, but it's so gorgeous it can certainly stand without one.

Friday afternoon tea

I meet with Jenny Comita, the deputy editor of Martha Stewart magazine. She is smart and funny and fetching in her red scarf and husband's striped bateau pullover. We discuss possible future projects and talk about the new redesign of the magazine since Pilar Guzman (former editor of Cookie and author of great family cookbook Time For Dinner) has taken over.

On the way to meet another literary agent, this earnest basket of daffodils catches my eye.

Friday dusk

There's a violet haze descending on Gramercy Park and it looks like something out of another century. I half-expect Lily Bart to come clopping around the street corner in a canary-colored coach with a fringed hammer-cloth.

Friday evening

Michael and I make a quick stop at John Derian to drool over their wares. I find myself wondering if I can move in.

Oh, you "Fantastic Mr. Fox." Stop with the sly gaze. You know I'm yours.

Then it's across the street to Billy Reid, the haberdashery of choice for downtown New York gentlemen. The vibe is very city meets country. Michael picks up the perfect gray cardigan sweater -- one Cary Grant could wear to either a Main Line cocktail party or golfing with Bob Hope.A quick trek across cobblestone streets......and we arrive at ACME, the reinvented New Nordic restaurant that has taken the city by storm. (NY Times review HERE.)

My cocktail arrives in an old-fashioned champagne glass -- very "Rules of Civility" swell.

There's a big trend going on among men in Manhattan and it's called Buns and Beards (executed to greatest effect when they both appear on the same head). Our bartender is no exception. It's a striking look and makes them look like übercool artisanal cheesemongers, butchers, or mixology journeymen.

We are instructed that sharing plates is recommended, so we order a slew of items. Pearl barley and clams in a roasted sunflower broth and black cod with pickled green tomatoes, cardamom, vanilla and dandelion are standouts, as is our dessert, "Fallen Fruit with a Wheatgrass Granité."

I fall asleep dreaming of bunned and bearded Norwegian farmers harvesting apricots and plums off the dark loamy ground.

Saturday morning

Years ago, I left my heart in this city. And every time I return, I look for it. And every time I find it, it's always time to leave.

As my car zooms toward JFK airport and the city slides away, it already feels like a dream.

An Empire State of Mind

O, Manahatta. You get me every time.

(New York City, 1942.

All photographs by the incredible Charles Cushman.

Click HERE to view his archive.)

Interesting things may be forming on the horizon.

Back in 36 hours.

Details to come.

As always, any good that happens is half owing to you.

So thank you.

Yours in Bloomsbury,

x/Lisa

Word Up

Pamela Fugate is a woman after my own heart.

Available HERE.

What Inspired Them?

Liberty has just unveiled their new season of art fabrics and I've made up a test especially for you. Let's see how clever you are in divining the inspiration of the prints below.

(Hint: In one of the questions, all three answers are correct.)

1. This fabric was inspired by:

a. Bassett's Liquorice Allsorts

b. A chaotic bookcase

c. stacks of ceramic tiles at Royal Doulton

2. This fabric was inspired by:

a. The garden writings of Vita Sackville-West

b. Princess Diana's favorite flowers

c. the grounds of Glencot House in Somerset

3. This fabric was inspired by:

a. Cotton candy in Hyde Park

b.Pink champagne bubbles at the Dorchester

c. "Portrait of a Lady" (1465) by Alesso Baldovinetti

4. This fabric was inspired by:

a. crockery, framed pictures of ceramics and drinking afternoon tea whilst drawing

b. a trip to Glencot House in Somerset

c. it's loosely based on another Liberty print called "Dancing Ladies"

5. This fabric is based on:

a. the Art Deco architecture in the film "Metropolis"

b. the urbanization of Eastern Europe

c. a traditional ikat from Uzbekhistan

6. This fabric was inspired by:

a. an old underground map of London

b. the French film "Breathless"

c. the children's game "Parcheesi" ("Ludo", to those of you in the UK)

7. This fabric was inspired by:

a. the film "A Clockwork Orange"

b. the rural countryside of poet John Betjeman (1906-1984)

c. Queen Elizabeth's kitchen garden at Hatfield House

8. This fabric was inspired by:

a. the tidal pools of Cornwall

b. cave drawings and photography from Wookie Hole in Somerset

c. the movie "2001: A Space Odyssey"

9. This fabric was inspired by:

a. an old piece of stumpwork at the V&A Museum

b. statues of lions around England

c. the London Zoo

10. This fabric was inspired by:

a. a tablecloth made of Madeira lace that belonged to Queen Victoria

b. the character of Sylvia in "La Dolce Vita" who wore a provocative top

c. the novel "The Secret Garden" by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Answers:

1. b

2. c

3. c

4. a, b and c

5. a

6. b

7. a

8. b

9. b

10. b

How did you do? (Brilliantly, no doubt. If you got 3 or more correct -- because I made them hard, I know -- I give you a royal curtsey.)

xx/Lisa

Are You A Clean, Green Eating Machine?

I've been trying to eat healthy this year, I really have.

(My Sunday Lunch:

Roast rutabagas, parsnips and sweet potatoes with green salad.)

In fact, for the last 15 days, I've been following the "Clean Eating Action Plan" from Whole Living magazine, free online HERE.

Whole Living is a Martha Stewart publication. (Did you know that? I didn't.) So the recipes are "Martha-ized": simple to follow, easy to make and without too many ingredients. If you are a fan of her Everyday Food series, you know exactly what I mean.

What is "The Clean Eating Action Plan", you ask?

Well, here's what it's not.

No caffeine.

No alcohol.

No sugar.

No dairy.

No white carbs.

I know what you're thinking. But the food is so delicious that it doesn't seem like you're depriving yourself.

What differences do I notice?

Glowing skin. (Illuminizer not necessary.)

Waking up in the morning and feeling...awake. (Shocking!)

Falling asleep at night like a normal person. (10pm = Zzzz.)

An even, steady mood throughout the day. (No 3pm sugar-crash nap.)

A renewed sense of confidence and optimism. (Yes, really.)

And the weight loss doesn't hurt (five pounds and counting).

Here's the detox in a nutshell:

1. The first week, you limit yourself to fruits, vegetables and plant-based fats, nuts, avocados and oils.

2. The second week, you add back high-quality protein like fish and legumes.

3. And the third week, you add back gluten-free grains and protein-rich eggs.

The first three days are the hardest because the beast in your belly is screaming out for all the things it misses. After that, the decision-making center switches from your stomach to your brain and you realize that you, in fact, are in control. It's a liberating moment.

Below are a few things I now find myself craving.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Breakfast (Week One):

Green Detox Smoothie

Ingredients:

1 cup kale leaves, stems removed, coarsely chopped

1 ripe banana

1 Granny Smith apple, coarsely chopped

1/2 cup flat-leaf parsley leaves

Directions:

Combine kale, apple, banana, parsley and 2 1/4 cups water in a blender;

blend until smooth. (I use a bit less water because I like a thicker smoothie.)

Serves 2.

Per serving: 105 calories

Lunch (Week One):

Kale Slaw with Red Cabbage and Carrots

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon apple-cider vinegar

Coarse salt and pepper

3 cups mixed shredded kale and red cabbage

1 carrot, peeled and julienned

1/4 cup fresh parsley leaves

2 tablespoons diced red onion

2 tablespoons sunflower seeds

2 tablespoons pumpkin seeds

2 tablespoons hemp seeds

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, whisk olive oil, mustard, and

apple-cider vinegar. Season with salt and pepper.

2. In another bowl, combine kale, cabbage, carrot, parsley,

and red onion with sunflower, pumpkin, and hemp seeds.

3. Season with salt and pepper, drizzle with dressing and toss to coat.

Yield:

Serves 4

Snack (Anytime):

Roasted Spiced Chickpeas

Ingredients:

One 15 oz. can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

1/4 teaspoon ground coriander

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon ground hot paprika

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Toss chickpeas with oil and spices until

evenly coated. Spread on a rimmed baking sheet. Roast, shaking pan,

occasionally, until chickpeas are golden and crunchy, about 30 minutes.

Yield: Makes 1 cup

Dinner (Week Two):

Red Lentil and Turnip Stew with Parsley

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 yellow onion, diced

4 garlic cloves, minced

3 celery stalks, diced

1 1/2 cups chopped tomatoes

1 1/2 cups dried red lentils

1 turnip, peeled and diced

1/2 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

1 teaspoon red-wine vinegar (optional)

Coarse salt and pepper

Directions:

1. In a pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion,

garlic, and celery; cook, stirring, until tender, 6 to 8 minutes.

2. Increase heat to high and add tomatoes; cook for 1 minute.

Add lentils, turnip, and 6 cups water.

3. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until lentils are tender,

20 to 25 minutes. Stir in parsley and vinegar. Season with salt and pepper.

Yield:

Makes 10 cups

Serves 8

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Eating healthy is a journey best taken slow and steady, one meal at a time. If I can do it, you can do it!

xx/Lisa

P.S. Here are some food blogs I'm loving these days:

My New Roots

Recipes for Health (from the New York Times)

Green Lemonade

Fresh 365

101 Cookbooks

What Is It About English Women?

The most fascinating ones are brilliant, maddening birds of paradise.

I'm thinking of three in particular.

1. Amanda Eliasch

Famous quotes:

"The Muscovites say that the moment a woman learns to be ugly she becomes interesting."

"Think positive, paint the town red, have a ball, have a laugh...but don't have such a good time that you're left empty."

"It's essential to have style on the back of a horse."

(from "As I Like It")

(Amanda Eliasch via her blog)

1. Last Friday I went to a performance of "As I Like It", a one-act play written by Amanda based on her colorful and oh-so-complicated life.

Imagine a McQueen-clad Marilyn crossed with an R-rated Nancy Mitford. That's the quickest way I know of describing her.

Here's the more conventional way: Photographer, poet, neon artist, US fashion editor for Genlux Magazine and full-blown eccentric, Amanda never lets anything as insignificant as fear stop her. I've known her for over fifteen years and she never stops surprising me or making me howl with laughter.

"As I Like It" is a whirlwind monologue that takes you on a journey of her life so far, from the hardships of a vulnerable childhood and Dickensian boarding school to her stint with the Moscow Theater Company to being a married London socialite and a Parisian mistress. Performed by actress Elizabeth Karr and punctuated with operatic duets from Lisa Zane and Amanda's son, Charles, it's a gutsy way of approaching love and loss -- with zero apologies and lashings of trenchant wit.

(info here and here)

2. The Dowager Countess of Grantham

Famous quotes:

"I do hope I'm interrupting something."

"No Englishman would dream of dying in someone else's house."

"What is a week-end?"

(from "Downton Abbey")

(photographer unknown)

Ah yes, the old dame is back. Domineering, intractable and fiercely opinionated, she's part peacock, part snapping turtle and we love her for it. I can't remember a time when a character on television has been so over-the-top entertaining, can you?

Whether she's grumbling about fact vs. fiction ("The truth is neither here nor there, it's the look that matters") or reprimanding her granddaughter for wanting to learn to drive ("You are a lady, not Toad of Toad Hall"), we somehow find ourselves firmly on her side.

And those expressions.

Watch carefully.

If you spot pursed lips, eyeballs threatening to jump ship from their sockets or that massive walking stick of hers hitting the floor like a thunderbolt, DUCK AND ROLL.

She's getting ready to unleash a corker.

3. Violet Trefusis

Famous quotes:

"Be wicked, be brave, be drunk, be reckless, be dissolute, be despotic, be a suffragette, be anything you like, but for pity's sake be it to the top of your bent."

"Live fully, live passionately, live disastrously."

(in a letter to Vita Sackville-West)

(via here)

I just finished reading Michael Holroyd's "The Book of Secrets" and its spell upon me lingers.

Part biography, part memoir, the book is about the author's fascination with the various English enchantresses who shadowed and inhabited the palatial Villa Cimbrone in Ravello, Italy.

There was Violet Trefusis -- daughter of Alice Keppel (and perhaps King Edward VI) -- whose love affair with Vita Sackville-West wreaked havoc on her entire life and turned her into a latter-day Miss Havisham. There was Eve Fairfax, purported mistress of Rodin and possessor of an enormous scrapbook of her private life that she carried everywhere with her.

And there are two modern-day women Holroyd encounters, each with a personal connection to the Villa Cimbrone, and whose stories are seamlessly woven in with the others to reveal a patchwork of secret longings and uncelebrated achievements.

What English woman do you think is fabulous?

This Is It

What we are today comes from our thoughts of yesterday, and our present thoughts build our life of tomorrow: our life is a creation of the mind.

~Buddha

(Sunrise on Rapa Nui, 2007. Photo by LBG.)

Every moment is an opportunity to redefine yourself. Who are you going to be in 2012?