Following Rabbits Blog

SoHo is one of the most frequented neighborhoods in Manhattan for all that it has to offer shoppers and diners alike. Big name designer boutiques, indie local designers, retail chains and outlets, cafes and fine dining offer something for everyone. Walking around aimlessly in any NYC neighborhood, you're bound to discover new fave haunts to shop and eat. Here are some of mine in SoHo:

Start off your day of shopping right at Cafe Cafe. A cozy atmosphere with benches around a low coffee table, bar and loft seating welcome you in. They have a large menu of iced or hot coffee and tea, along with pastries and scones or a more traditional breakfast of eggs and french toast. It was a great place to lay out my plan of attack for the rest of my day.

Once caffeinated, head across the street to Palma. This intimate boutique stocks flirty and feminine dresses, skirts, and tailored pieces. Think sophisticated event or business casual work attire. They also offer great statement jewelry pieces-- long necklaces, chunky bracelets and large earrings. Located at 463 Broome Street, Palma is open Tuesday-Saturday, 11a-7p.

Head down Broome Street to Broadway and stop at Topshop. Any store that boasts a "shoe lounge" warrants a visit, am I right? Three floors of women's fashions, shoes and accessories kept me gushing for a while. Flowy tops and hip hugging skirts dominate the racks, with casual staples interspersed with pieces worthy of a night on the town. Their shoes boast sky-high platforms, glittery finishes, and eye-catching details: chains, rivets, bows, buckles, and ribbons. A great one-stop-shop, you can finish off your outfit with a bag, jewelry and even fill out your cosmetics case.

Inventory is located at Elizabeth and Kenmare Streets. A carefully curated, rotating collection of edgy designs, Inventory is ever-changing and always keeping up on the latest trends and styles. They have a large selection of high-waisted skirts, lacy blouses, motorcycle jackets and underwear meant to be shown off. This is a store that you have to keep coming back to in order to keep up with their selection and offerings. Inventory is open Monday-Saturday, noon-8p; Sunday 11a-7p.

Walk up Lafayette Street to Amarcord Vintage Fashions. They carry upscale vintage in pristine condition-- during my visit they had fabulous pieces from Dior, Gucci, La Perla, and Dolce & Gabbana. Everything from little black dresses and silk nightgowns to leather bags and sunglasses can be scavenged and had for a great price.

Nearby on Lafayette you'll find Label. A modest-sized line designed by Laura Whitcomb, Label offers statement pieces that will make you a standout in any crowd. Dresses and tops that can best be described as having shape and a sense of architecture, Whitcomb's designs are a stunning combination of art and fashion.

Now that you've worked up an appetite, head over to Caffe Falai. Serving lunch daily from noon-4p, Caffe Falai offers a wide variety of salads, soups, pastas and paninis. A beautiful atmosphere with natural light, lots of mirrors and crystal chandeliers, your lunch is sure to be a relaxing finish to your busy day.

SEE IT: art I fell for this week
Music Philosophy makes art posters inspired by song lyrics. Some of your favorite lines from legends and one-hit-wonders can adorn your walls. Check out their etsy shop here.

WATCH IT: videos I peeped this week that you should too
Lost fans were left with a bazillion unanswered questions when the series ended earlier this year. On the Season 6 DVD is a 12-minute epilogue that will answer a few of them, including what the deal was with the polar bears, island infertility, and where's Walt. You can see a preview here.

Eminem, Rihanna, Dominic Monaghan & Megan Fox in the Love the Way You Lie music video.

HEAR IT: songs I downloaded this week
King of Anything by Sara Bareilles * Catch her in concert at Webster Hall, Wednesday November 10. I snagged myself a ticket the moment they went on sale today! (I'm dying for her to sing Gravity... story of my life ATM.)

Do You Love Me by Guster * They're also hitting the road, doing a show in NYC at Beacon Theater on October 29. I've been very lucky and was invited to this show by a friend who has two tickets. I saw them live at UMass several years ago and they were fantastic.

DO IT: things to add to your calendar
Raiders of the Lost Ark is screening tonight for FREE on the flight deck of the Intrepid. Doors open at 7:30p. Get there early!

Swim on Park Avenue tomorrow! Pools have been designed from (new) dumpsters and will be available for swimming on a timed, first-come/first-serve basis from 7am-1pm. Fun! Park Ave will be closed to traffic from the Brooklyn Bridge up to Central Park 3 Saturdays in a row, starting tomorrow, with free bike and skate rentals.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday there will be a FREE performance of Romeo and Juliet in Riverside Park at 6:30pm by the Hudson Warehouse. The outdoor theater performance will be at W89th and Riverside Drive. It's not officially "Shakespeare in the Park"... but technically it is, right?

Get your tickets to BAMcinematek's Vampire Film Series. They're screening over 30 classic vampire movies now through September.

Welcome to Il Matto. Translation: the Madman-- and it suits its moniker with flair. Recently opened by Chef Matteo Boglione, Il Matto is a fresh mix of art gallery, Italian eatery and mad tea party. An overall sterile atmostphere is broken up with pops of color and whimsical furniture. A giant painting depicting the owner as an octopus and teacup-shaped booths that spin around the table contribute to the restaurant's daring decor.

The menu offers creative dishes such as black squid ink gnocchi with crabmeat ragout topped with fried zucchini blossom and black olive crusted sea scallop, grilled porcini mushroom, yellow beets and almond milk foam. The parmigiana style zucchini with smoked mozzarella appetizer was fabulous as well.

The cocktail menu, divided into "salty" and "sweet", offers up bizarre libation ingredients like worcestershire sauce, pickled cucumber, pink peppercorn, ricotta cheese, lettuce, and balsamic reduction. An admittedly less-adventurous option on the menu, the Rosso Tiziano (rum, lemon juice, sugar, raspberry, and tomato) was more my speed, and very tasty.

Not to be missed is their creme brulee. Split it if you must, but it's delicious (you'll wish you ordered your own).

Located in the heart of TriBeCa at 281 Church Street, Il Matto is open for dinner daily from 4:30-10:30p, staying open an hour later on Friday and Saturday. Reservations can be made online at Open Table, or by calling (212) 226-1607.

my newly-settled living room!

Since my IKEA shopping spree on Friday, I've been slowly giving my apartment the desperate makeover it needed. I wasn't taking advantage of all the space I have, and most of my belongings have been in boxes since I moved in February. Now that I have bookcases, dvd racks, and more furniture, I can spread out and put things away where they belong. I'll be back out adventuring now that I've taken care of the home-front! 

somewhat less of a disaster...

the cats seem to approve...

...finally some proper DVD storage...

...no more hunching over to eat at the coffee table...

...and I've still got my beautiful NYC view... just a nicer place to enjoy it!

This weekend I went to a huge birthday BBQ in Jersey and brought mac n cheese. My mum's recipe is super popular... whenever I ask what I can bring, the answer is always mac! It takes some time to make it from scratch, but it's so worth it (and will last a week in the fridge-- hellooo leftovers!). 

Patience making the cheese sauce is the key-- if you wait for the milk to simmer before adding it to the roux you get a much thicker sauce. (I use skim, but you can use whole milk if you want a creamier cheese sauce.) Also, go easy on the heat with the sauce... I've burned it before and had to start over. This recipe is for what my mum calls "party size" but I've halved it when feeding fewer people. I grew up eating mac n cheese and linguica dogs, and this stuff has always been major comfort food for me. (Does anyone know where to buy linguica in nyc?! I have yet to find it... so sad. I'm missing my Portuguese food staples!) If you make it, lemme know how it turns out!