Williamsburg
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I've been back in Manila for two weeks now and things are slowly getting back to normal. It took a while because I was focused on getting the kids caught up in school. I went back to work right away, shooting UZ and working on some exciting future projects. But somehow I still have a huge hangover from my Toronto and New York vacation. We had a really lovely time, family-wise. My mom joined my dad in retirement; my sister was on maternity leave; my brother was on vacation. It was very leisurely...
Before I move on and blog about the awesome things happening here in Manila, let me share more highlights from Williamsburg. I like seeing cities evolve. I like it better when you can trace how it happens organically, as opposed to seeing a perfectly manicured and planned city run by savvy developers.
Williamsburg, 2010.
Williamsburg, 2010.
Williamsburg is a bit of both. It's the classic case of gentrification. Artists and hipsters move into an area because of cheap rent. They turn a once decrepit-abandoned-industrial area into the epitome of coolness. Then trendy bars and shops open. Next thing you know, the price of real estate jacks up that the artists themselves, who were the original nouveau inhabitants, can't afford the rent anymore. Then they move on.
The Williamsburg I saw was still in between. The artists and "hipsters" were still there, but real estate giants are building and have built gorgeous expensive river-side condos. It's so dynamic that I'm sure in my next visit, everything will have changed.
Here are some highlights...
It was a Saturday and we drove through the neighbourhood of the Satmer Jews.
Then we walked in to this bazaar-type event where everyone was a creative entrepreneur. Lots of jewelry designers and budding fashion designers. I was a bit shy to take photos. But I did meet some artists and sellers...
Astali, a jewelry artist who made fashion accessories out of real bullet casing. Here is her site.
Astali's hand-crafted jewelry
Coin bracelet by Astali
Vintage board games converted into little boxes...
.... and notebooks. I regret not buying one of these.
Bingo numbers, now keychains.
Old bingo cards turned into notebooks. All these hand-made stationery are by another work in progress
Then we walked the streets where I took photos of buildings and doors. And allowed ourselves to get lost in the grid... until we discovered stores.
Talking with Meg, a designer and retailer with three shops (including one in Toronto). She said she opened her third shop here in Williamsburg because she lives there, and rent is still cheap for the size of store that she has.
Meg had some very nice dresses in neutrals.
Her retail store is also her studio. More on Meg at megshops.com
"In God We Trust"
Display in "In God We Trust" store. I love love love this statue of Our Lady. If anyone knows where I could find similar type of porcelain statues, please contact me. They remind me of Provencal-style Santibelli.
Cute display of charm necklaces in "In God We Trust." They also had dainty heart pendants engraved with words like "do me" and other nasty sayings. I should have bought some. Check out their site. And specifically this pendant.
Future Perfect - furniture store
This is not a dessert menu...
It's a list of scents from this not-a-perfume store called CB. Check out their site www.cbihateperfume.com. Read their story, its very interesting.
Then we ate at Sweetwater, where I had really yummy fish for lunch.
And I fell in love with those floors. I wish I could have them in my new kitchen.
Also these subway tiles. I want them in my new kitchen.
.
I've been back in Manila for two weeks now and things are slowly getting back to normal. It took a while because I was focused on getting the kids caught up in school. I went back to work right away, shooting UZ and working on some exciting future projects. But somehow I still have a huge hangover from my Toronto and New York vacation. We had a really lovely time, family-wise. My mom joined my dad in retirement; my sister was on maternity leave; my brother was on vacation. It was very leisurely...
Before I move on and blog about the awesome things happening here in Manila, let me share more highlights from Williamsburg. I like seeing cities evolve. I like it better when you can trace how it happens organically, as opposed to seeing a perfectly manicured and planned city run by savvy developers.
Williamsburg, 2010.
Williamsburg, 2010.
Williamsburg is a bit of both. It's the classic case of gentrification. Artists and hipsters move into an area because of cheap rent. They turn a once decrepit-abandoned-industrial area into the epitome of coolness. Then trendy bars and shops open. Next thing you know, the price of real estate jacks up that the artists themselves, who were the original nouveau inhabitants, can't afford the rent anymore. Then they move on.
The Williamsburg I saw was still in between. The artists and "hipsters" were still there, but real estate giants are building and have built gorgeous expensive river-side condos. It's so dynamic that I'm sure in my next visit, everything will have changed.
Here are some highlights...
It was a Saturday and we drove through the neighbourhood of the Satmer Jews.
Then we walked in to this bazaar-type event where everyone was a creative entrepreneur. Lots of jewelry designers and budding fashion designers. I was a bit shy to take photos. But I did meet some artists and sellers...
Astali, a jewelry artist who made fashion accessories out of real bullet casing. Here is her site.
Astali's hand-crafted jewelry
Coin bracelet by Astali
Vintage board games converted into little boxes...
.... and notebooks. I regret not buying one of these.
Bingo numbers, now keychains.
Old bingo cards turned into notebooks. All these hand-made stationery are by another work in progress
Then we walked the streets where I took photos of buildings and doors. And allowed ourselves to get lost in the grid... until we discovered stores.
Talking with Meg, a designer and retailer with three shops (including one in Toronto). She said she opened her third shop here in Williamsburg because she lives there, and rent is still cheap for the size of store that she has.
Meg had some very nice dresses in neutrals.
Her retail store is also her studio. More on Meg at megshops.com
"In God We Trust"
Display in "In God We Trust" store. I love love love this statue of Our Lady. If anyone knows where I could find similar type of porcelain statues, please contact me. They remind me of Provencal-style Santibelli.
Cute display of charm necklaces in "In God We Trust." They also had dainty heart pendants engraved with words like "do me" and other nasty sayings. I should have bought some. Check out their site. And specifically this pendant.
Future Perfect - furniture store
This is not a dessert menu...
It's a list of scents from this not-a-perfume store called CB. Check out their site www.cbihateperfume.com. Read their story, its very interesting.
Then we ate at Sweetwater, where I had really yummy fish for lunch.
And I fell in love with those floors. I wish I could have them in my new kitchen.
Also these subway tiles. I want them in my new kitchen.
.