Recently, along with my friend and new business partner, Erin and my friend and fab floral stylist, Lauren we had the opportunity to create two concept tables for a photoshoot. We immediately decided one would be garden and the other would be, well not garden. Sadly, the weather didn’t cooperate and our outdoor garden shoot had to be moved inside. Luckily, I found these amazing boxhedge panels from Town and Country Event Rentals and it helped bring a little of the lush green from outside in. We wanted a traditional, elegant table where two ladies might have lunch to discuss their upcoming benefit event. I might add that since we had a limited budget for these tables everything shown is either thrifted or pulled from our own cabinets. I made the faux linen overlay with a $10 piece of fabric (an iron and some stitch witchery is all you need.) This was our result:

{MPD at night via Sporkist}

Paisley Petunia is just mad about New York City. We love everything about the city and feel like we have the best of both worlds when we visit NYC and then come home to LA. With New York Fashion Week just around the corner the city is getting glam and while sadly, we won’t be able to make it east for FW this year we still like to keep tabs on all the fashion and fabulousness.

J and I usually stay at the W Union Square but we also love the Gansevoort Hotel in the Meatpacking District. It’s such a posh place you can’t help but feel cool when you’re there. I had the good fortune to spend some time in Brooklyn for work a while back and S visited Highline Park this past summer (click here if you missed it) and lord knows we have both eaten our way through alot of yummy in bewteen.  Here is what we’d be doing if we were in NYC right now.

EAT: Breakfast at MPD staple Pastis. The brioche french toast is heaven and Sunday brunch here is a tradition.

SHOP: We love ScoopNYC for a perfectly edited mix of some of our fav designers. I love Rag and Bone and Alice + Olivia and this is a great one stop shop for some of the coolest pieces. Plus, Scoop Kids and Scoop Men are right there so you can tick those gifts off your list all at once.

EAT (again): at 5Ninth. I adore their french dip and the leafy green patio area is a little urban oasis.

WANDER: White Columns Gallery. A beautiful edgy space featuring local and underrepresented artists.

COCKTAIL: Gansevoort Hotel. No trip to the MPD is complete without a rooftop cocktail at the Gansevoort Hotel. The late night scene is a little much for me but a pre-dinner cocktail here is perfect.

PRIMP: Red Market Salon. A truly unique concept of an evening salon with rotating art installations, DJs spinning and a dossier of rockstar stylists to make sure you are appropriately glammed before your big night out. If you are in the neighborhood this Friday check out the invite below for an exclusive event. RSVP to the email address on the invite (note: space is limited so hurry up!)

EAT (again): Perilla. We love Top Chef and winner Harold Dieterle has done a lovely job with this nook of a restaurant.

With that busy of a day it’s likely we’ll be spending at least part of the next morning sleeping peacefully before waking up and starting it all over again. It might be the city that never sleeps but a girl needs her beauty rest. I will be in NY again this spring so if anyone has something outstanding or unknown I should try let me know.

Ah, how I love the High Line! I was lucky to be in New York last June for the grand opening. You can see my photos here.

Big news today for foliage, fragrance and freight train lovers alike. After creating iconic perfumes based on 40 neighborhoods around NYC, Laurice Rahme, the founder of Bond No. 9, elevated her game by producing a scent based on herbs and flowers growing in the High Line.

A sprinkly day on the tracks at The Highline

The perfumery’s “goal was to not only capture the prairie wildness of the foliage’s stark beauty, but also the gritty urban poetry of the site, with steel rails snaking through the grass, the Hudson River waterfront, the dour colors of the old industrial buildings nearby and even the rows of huge hooks left over from the meatpacking days.”

Sounds lovely, doesn’t it?

And as a sweet bonus, 4% of the volume will be donated to the Friends of the High Line, the nonprofit that maintains and protects the urban refuge. The fragrance will launch in March 2010.

Bond No. 9

You might have heard of Fashion’s Night Out – a global celebration of fashion this Thursday, September 10, 2009. In an initiative to promote retail, restore consumer confidence, and celebrate fashion, U.S. and international editions of Vogue are coordinating evening extravaganzas in their respective world fashion capitals. You can read an article on Anna Wintour’s feelings behind FNO here.

Basically, the brands + designers are planning special events + appearances at their stores to promote shopping and to kick off the first night of New York Fashion Week. And although it is focused in NYC, check out the website for events near you!

On a charitable note, there is a citywide Clothing Drive, encouraging New Yorkers and visitors to donate new and/or gently used clothing. The donations will be given to the NYC AIDS Fund, and distributed to approximately 17 AIDS-related charities throughout New York City’s five boroughs. If you are not in NY, consider donating to your local AIDS charity.

Here are a list of some fun events to check out:

• Orange County: Events at Fashion Island Mall

Happy Shopping!

{diana photo by naomi}

Hello from NYC!

I just wrapped up a big conference at the United Nations for my day job: www.incentive2innovate.com and now have some time to play in NYC. It’s true what those myriad of t-shirts and other touristy gifts say….I heart NY. And if you know Naomi (and husband Josh) you definitely know that they heart NY, too. And now without further ado, is the  Rockstar Diaries’ ultimate guide to the best things in NYC on $30 a day.

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{diana photo by naomi}

I am so excited that Stephanie asked me to share how I’d spend $30 in a day in New York City! While my husband and I just moved away from NYC a few months ago {we live in DC now}, we will never forget all the fun we had over the years taking advantage of that glorious city {and all that glorious food}.

{diana photo by naomi}

There are so many exceptional restaurants and museums and shops in NYC, and many are reasonably priced. But I decided to share with you a few of my all time favorite things, which make any summer day beyond lovely.

{doughnut plant, lower east side}

To start out, try a Creme Brulee doughnut at the Doughnut Plant on the lower east side. Hands down, the best doughnuts we’ve ever had. {around $3.00}

{photo by husband}

If you like art, head over to the Metropolitan Museum of Art on the upper east side. They have some great exhibits going on this summer like The Model as the Muse . {Suggested donation, $5.00}

{grimaldi's pizza, brooklyn}

We love walking {or biking} across the Brooklyn Bridge and having the #1 rated best pizza in NYC at Grimaldi’s . Share a whole 18″ pie {$14.00}.

{shake shack}

And for dessert, split a hand spun shake or custard in Madison Square Park at the Shake Shack . {$5.25}

{naomi of rockstar diaries}

i recently got to spend 5 days in manhattan. oops, bad blogger here. i confess, my trip was a month ago – ages in the blogging world, but I just never got my stuff together for this post. apologies. but do you still want to see the pictures? I really really wanted to share, so here goes. and I am lucky to be going back in 4 weeks and politely request your recommendations for the best, the hidden, the secret, the out-of-the-way, the only-in-new-york. please leave a comment below or email me at s@paisleypetunia . com

man, i love this city. it’s everything everyone says it is, better than in the movies, more wild than your imagination… and it has a very special place in my heart. 

my favorite things to do there are: walk and eat. and shop, too, but that is usually just a natural progression from walking by cute little storefronts and Barney’s.

{welcome to ny, topshop}

{cigar boxes $5}

New: Monocle Shop opened in Brentwood this week

This chic boutique, an incarnation of the magazine of the same name, settles into the already stylish and scene-y Brentwood Country Mart. Special thanks to my sweet friend T over at Revolve who tipped me off to the store &  magazine. I will now be promptly heading over to check out the wares, which include limited-edition Monocle exclusives from Comme des Garcons, Porter bags, and Le Labo fragrances. While you are there, drop into NY’s export City Bakery for pretzel croissants and all things yummy. Can’t seem to get that city & its food out of my mind… 

The Monocle Shop
225 26th Streeet  Santa Monica, CA
(310) 395-4180
Website

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Old: Shareen Vintage sells wonderful old things Venice and Downtown LA

I am on a big vintage kick – recently scored a navy wool cape with gold shiny buttons and a flowy cotton candy pink 50s dress ala carrie bradshaw. Shareen’s is my go-to place to score one-of-a-kind and most importantly AFFORDABLE vintage. The warehouse in LA is massive and you can host your own party there with just your friends. The Venice location is a tiny bungalow tucked behind ecookie boutique and they provide snacks and treats for all guests. While scouring the vintage shops in NYC I realized just how lucky we are to have affordable amazing antique clothing here in LA. 

**Don’t fret NYC readers: Shareen will have a special 2 day sale next weekend in Manhattan, see link for details!

Note: no boys allowed & there are no dressing rooms – wear tights and tank top if you are shy 

Happy Spring & Passover & Easter & Weekend to You!

Spotted: A necklace like this in a little shop in the Lower East Side. They also come in longer lengths and can be doubled or used as a belt. You can buy them in the Anonymous Agent Etsy Shop or probably make them yourself, if you’re crafty.

** Updated Post ** Thanks to reader Tina for letting us know that she works at the lovely little shop at 124 Ludlow – and its called Plum. You can follow their blog which features many of the great designers they carry at www.plum-pear.blogspot.com

Lower East Side Shopping Guide

Sampled: Sesame Pancake Sandwiches and Dumplings at Vanessa’s Dumpling House. At first I was unsure – what exactly IS a sesame pancake? Thanks to my fabulous friends – Danielle and Desiree – I have found my new favorite nyc cheap eat. The prices are so so reasonable and the sandwich with marinated pork was divine. A great pit stop for a quick lunch or snack. 

Vanessa’s Dumpling House - 118 Eldridge Street, New York NY  

More to come…what are your favorite nyc snacks and shops?

in nyc for work & play. check back for updates later. xoxo, s