selling passion

The Spring Brimfield Antique Show is scheduled for May 14th - 17th. It is a not-to-be-missed event for antique lovers, collectors, designers, decorators, and die-hard shoppers. For 5 full days, the country fields of Brimfield, Massachusetts will be packed with dealers selling antique and vintage furniture, art, lighting, objets d'art, clothing, textiles, and curiosities. Bring good walking shoes and a few strong totes.  

one of my favorite shopping bags from one of my favorite shops.

Alskling means "darling" in Swedish, and this small boutique at 228 Columbus Avenue in NYC is definitely sweet. In addition to the adorable "onesies" sold at the back of the store, Alskling sells pretty, feminine tops and frocks for women, including a line of comfy crepe separates and slip dresses.

I am a huge fan of Santa Maria Novella products, particularly their pomegranate soap. They also make wonderful bath salts, cologne, candles and more. Pictured here is the Santa Maria Novella shop in Venice. The original apothecary was established in 1612 in Florence and is still thriving in 2012.

If you're shopping or museum-hopping on the Upper East Side, Cafe Sabarksy is a perfect place for a lunch or afternoon tea break.  In addition to its gorgeous ambiance (inside the Neue Galerie at 5th and 86th), delicious Austrian dishes are on offer.

The Neue Galerie at Fifth Avenue and 86th Street has a gorgeous gift shop with beautiful cards, calendars and art books.  One of my favorite artists, Egon Schiele, is well represented here. 

The Tinsel Trading Comany at 1 West 37th Street (in the garment district) has the most gorgeous selection of vintage ribbons in NYC.

Izakaya Ten is one of my favorite Chelsea hang-outs.  Great saki, sushi and other signature dishes in a very cool space.  Located at 207 Tenth Avenue.

Diane von Furstenberg's wonderful shop in the West Village as seen from the HighLine.  Located at 874 Washington Street at 14th Street.

To me, Gracious Home is the best home store in New York City.  They carry a spectacular selection of home goods.  Beautiful bed and bath linens.  Custom-made cotton rugs.  Every type of candle, frame, mirror, drawer pull, outlet cover, lamp finial, shower head, basket, bin, pot, pan imaginable. Gracious Home has 2 stores on the UES and UWS of Manhattan.

For the next week or so, we will be covering home base featuring some of our favorite shops in New York City.

The historic old town of Bogota, Colombia is filled with religiously oriented shops containing every type of Christian icon imaginable. Some of these shops are quite kitsch, some are very beautiful, and some are almost scary.

Eliseevsky is a spectacular gourmet food market on Tverskaya Street in Moscow. Excellent service. A wide range of international products. And, an authentically old environment that can only be described as palatial. The back room carries wine and liquors.

Flos on Houston Street in Soho has gorgeous lamps and light fixtures. Styles are restrained and elegant, and range from classic to cutting edge.

The graphics in this children's gift shop on Via Brera in Milan are wonderful. So are the small toys and accessories.  

Griffin GB bills itself as "an oddly beautiful general store" and the description is perfect. The shop is filled with little treasures old and new: clothing, shoes, books, housewares, linens, etc. Located at 177 Main Street in Great Barrington, Griffin is a charming discovery.