More bag options for the fashionable city girl. The laptop bag is available for a 15-inch and a 17-inch laptop version. If you have a 13-inch laptop, I find that a 15-inch flat carrier is often not too big. Plus, it comes handy to bring a magazine with me. Ask then first for exact dimensions, if this is the case.

The silk-screened Canvas shopping bag is big enough to fit a picnic for 2. It is ideal for a stop at Central Park. These bags are made in Brooklyn. You can shop online at nyDesignroom or visit their showroom Thursday to Sunday from 12 to 7 PM.

+ Laptop Carrier $110 USD
+ Shopping Baaag $55 USD
+ via Design Milk

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Amy Atlas has made a name for herself in a niche market. She specializes in dessert and candy tables. I am not alone to love her sense of style. With Halloween in 6 weeks, it is good to review what you need to set up  an awesome candy table.

Therefore, I read Amy Atlas’ interviews and examine her marvelous portfolio to sum up how you can try to design your own sweets buffet at home.

• Start with a theme
• Put attention to the table linens and service ware. They should be beautiful and coordinated to get a refined look
• Vary the heights of trays, stands, bowls, jars and footed plates. Design cute tags for every vessel.
• Repeat elements to create a sense of collection.
• Add festive decorative elements to enhance your table. Your goal is to impress.
• Create a backdrop to your buffet table.
• Survey the bakers and candy purveyors on your area. Make sure to taste everything; it has to be delicious not just pretty.
• Order desserts or candies based on what you want the table to look like instead of limiting the quantities to the number of guests. Plan for refilling, when applicable.
• Provide goody bags for your guests to take home desserts or candies. The goody bags can be a container that fit with your party theme.

How much candy you need?

You need an abundant choice to create an impact. Get 8 to 10 candy varieties. You need a least 8 ounces of candy per guest. To give you an idea, 6 ounces fill a small gift bag. Better to add more and round up because people will take some home.

I read on Martha Stewart that you need 8 pounds of jelly beans to fill a 1-gallon bowl. The same 1-gallon bowl will hold 5 pounds and a half of malted-milk balls or 3 pounds of wrapped taffy. Estimate that three quarter of your guests will take individual wrapped candies like pinwheel lollipops.

One practice that is not common is to host a sweet party later at night. Now that you have some guidelines, think about it.

MORE:
+ Amy Atlas

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I featured Sunday Suppers on several quick link posts. From what I have seen this week, I am not going to stop soon. The concept behind their Market class can be resumed in building a seasonal menu based on what is available at the market.

Casey Solomon and Karen Mordechai propose more than cooking classes. They put attention to details of the tablescape. This is how they first grabbed my attention.

For the market class, they came up with a brilliant yet simple idea. They wrote the menu on brown paper bags. At the end of the night, the guests used their paper bag to bring home fresh peaches.

They filled a wood crate with local peaches and put it next to the door. Small details include placing a piece of jute underneath the crate. You could use potato bags. Tea towels were used as napkins and to make a bed for the peaches. I am sure that many of you will recycle their entertaining ideas.

If you are interested in taking their classes, they are held in Brooklyn, New York.

PHOTO CREDITS:
+ Sunday Suppers

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Canvas aims for a collection that represents simple, sustainable style. The Canvas line is available at Ochre, a store that I will definitely visit the next time I go to SOHO in New York.

The Bistroware ceramic dinnerware collection is elegant and simple. I read on Remodelista that the plates vary from $15 to $20 each. The Moroccan recycled glasses ($11-$15) are original. I would like to own a bunch of round cedar boards ($32-$38) to use as serving trays.

Apartment Therapy posted photos of new products at Ochre after they visited the SOHO store. If you are a fan of the modern rustic look, check out the water table and bench.

MORE:
+ Canvas
+ US Ochre store
+ More photos on Apartment Therapy

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To get the wow factor, I suggest you set up an ice cream sandwich bar where your guests can select their own cookie and ice cream combination. This means that you have several options when you wish to serve ice cream sandwiches at a party:

• Make everything from scratch – it is wonderful but who has the time
• Bake the cookies and buy premium ice cream  or Buy the cookies and make your own ice cream- it is manageable for many
• Buy the cookies and premium ice cream – the no-fuss way

I say to do whatever fits your skills and your schedule. Make sure to serve the ice cream sandwiches in either ordinary waxed paper or go the extra miles and get professional grade food paper. You can make your cookies square, round or any almost-square shapes. For a kid birthday, use a butterfly cookie cutter or a castle cookie cutter.

I attached photos of professional made ice cream sandwiches to know what to aim for. Paul of Sweet Paul shows us that waffle cookies adds a twist. I like the look but I prefer the taste of real cookies. The New-York bakery Milk and Cookies sells 6 flavors and plus the flavor of the week.

Coolhaus Concept

Two Los Angeles girls in their twenties start selling ice creams at festivals on their converted postal truck. Instead of paper, Freya Estreller and Natasha Case imagined the Coolhaus ice sandwiches in edible wrapper. Made of rice paper, the wrapper can be branded with soy ink. This is a cool idea for events. They twitter their truck location.

You can order the sandwiches straight off the menu or mix the flavors to your liking. This is one thing that you could do if you are having a big bash. Assembling an ice cream sandwich only takes a few seconds.

CREDITS:
1. Waffle and strawberry ice cream sandwich by Sweet Paul
2. Coolhaus $3 USD without edible wrapper, $3.50 with edible wrapper- more photos on Yelp
3. Milk and Cookies $4.95 USD

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I told you before about Fairmont Hotels initiatives to bring back bees in our cities to spread pollination. We can also do our part. And to do that in style, Jason Neufeld produced an outstanding collection of ceramic shelters to to attract bumblebees called Bombus Shelter. The nest of bumblebees are in ground. They often use tunnels built by other animals. Each Bombus Shelter artifically and artisfully recreates an environment for a bee hive.

Housewarming Gift Idea for Apartment/Condo Dwellers

If you are looking for a cute housewarming git ideas, here is something handy to carry to a friend’s home. Plus, you can bring the desired canvas bags inside when you are cooking. On drawback visible from the pictures is that you must accept that it will not stay perfectly clean. Therefore, it is not for everyone. In fact, it may be better suited for growing your plants inside.

Like I said for his Honeycomb Toast and Tea Set, contact the designer Jason Neufeld by email to order them since they are no other information on his Web site. There no price information either.

MORE:
+ Jason Neufeld

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Jenn and Mary are the two lively founders of Ice Cream Social. Their work has a vintage, crafty look. I particularly like what they did for these custom save-the-date cards. Each one suit the personality of the happy couples.

If you are getting married or host a big event, it is best to set up a Web site for the hotel, directions, and other wedding information like did they did here. This way liberate space to be more creative. Furthermore, you can update and provide more details on a Web site. You can use Wordpress as the CMS to create your Web site.

Located in Brooklyn, Ice Cream Social first love are wedding invitations. Having said that, they specialize in visual communications for all life rituals.

Event: Meet Them Today Only at 1 pm

Don’t forget to stop by the Brooklyn Wedding Chapel on Sunday, June 7th from 1 until 2 pm. Jenn and Mary will be there to chat about our design process, answer stationery questions, and best of all serve up some ice cream. Please RSVP right here.

+ Ice Cream Social

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The latest trends in bar seems is inspired by the era of Prohibition. It is not surprising since it was a period where cocktails flourished. The bartenders of the time have to be resourceful and use all their talent to concoct something delicious with the spirit quality of the time.

With mixologists returning to the basics and experimenting again with fresh ingredients, it seems like a natural fit that some bars play on the nostalgia of the Prohibition era. Several bars have emerged across the United States. And you have to look where they are because they do not exhibit big neon signs to attract you inside.

Several concepts are used to make these bars feel underground. Each bar developed its own trick. When you make a reservation at Bourbon & Branch in San Francisco, you will be given a password to whisper at the door. I am going to SF at the end of the month, I will plan a visit to see what Bourbon & Branch is all about. Let’s hope my experience will be worthy of a post.

At PDT (Please don’t Tell) in East Village, you have to pass through a secret door at the back of Crif Dogs. You must enter a phone booth to identify yourself so they can buzz you inside the bar. It is the cocktail-lounge annex to Crif Dogs, a hip hot dog restaurant in New York.

I thought these are easy think to reproduce at a party. It would add something special.

Spreading the word locally

The Lab, here in Montreal, plays a low key version. The touch is visible through the bartender outfits and the theme of their special event. The Lab is owned by friends of mine; they are excellent at what they do.

MORE:
+ Review on New York Magazine
+ Via New York Times

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Before the weekend, I gathered the best of what the design products I spot this week. With the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) happening last week in New York City; there were plenty of great candidates for my top 3 list. I must confess that I am jealous my blogger friends who went to the ICFF show. I had previous commitments who made it impossible for me to attend. There is always next year as they say.

+ The first product is the felt and polycarbonate Coral Seating designed by Werner Aisslinger. These awesome poufs were premiered last April at the Salone Internazionale del Mobile in Milan. If you are going to the DMY Festival in Berlin, from 3 – 7 June 2009, do not miss the second presentation of the Made in Berlin show. The Coral Seating is available in several colors. I love it! Via Mocoloco

+ The second position goes to the upcoming PS collection from IKEA. The PS collection is not yet in stores. The PS Maskros Pendant ($89.99 USD) and the PS Stock vases ($24.99 – 29.99 each) are something to look for. Via Apartment Therapy Chicago

+ The Hero 365 Rain Collector and Drying Rack are designed by the Toronto based Hero Design Lab. They would look sharp in a contemporary backyard. Hero 365 promote better habits in everyday living by bringing good design to everyday items. I cannot agree more since my blog is based on that philosophy.

The rain collection is composed by the stand, a collapsible plastic tank to collect the water and a hook for your watering can. Both lightweight aluminum items are manufactured in Canada. They are recyclable and shipped flat-packed. Via Mocoloco

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The same women behind the Easter Egg cookies I showcased yesterday share every week recipes on The Jewels of New York. The photos look amazing.

Their farewell to winter meal caught my eyes. I would like to be invited to a feast like that. The menu includes an attractive glazed rack of lamb on a nest of pearl onions, warm cabbage salad with Carlo sausage, and chocolate pots de crème with rosemary whipped cream. Sounds tasty!

Their food presentation relies on using serving ware in an usual way. For their farewell to winter meal, all shades of gray were invited to the table. The regular pie pan helps to keep warm the warm cabbage salad. The ensemble reinterprets rustic elements and ends up feeling fresh.

Brunch Recipes

Whenever you are making breakfast, serving toasted baguette slices adds elegance. Plus the classic soup bowl fits better the dish. I often serve dish in bowl instead of plates. For your next brunch, their Smoked Salmon and Eggs with Roasted Tomatoes should be a hit.

Cutting your papillotte as a heart shape is a lovely idea for a romantic dinner, Valentine’s Day or a bridal shower.

MORE:
+ Last Winter Supper
+ Farmhouse Breakfast
+ Sole en Papillote with Herbed Wild Rice and Escarole Salad

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New York is a city where you can dare to launch an atypical restaurant. Sweetiepie is an upscale place where the design and the food is set to please both kids and trendy parents. After refreshing the kid furniture and the baby gears industries, new hip parents are starting to invade the restaurant business.

Maman, Bébé et Café was about giving time to parents with newborns to replenish their mind and body. Sweetiepie is about creating a magical place where to eat out with kids.

The Food

Parents of a 6-year old boy, the trendy couple Luke and Julie Janklow launched this venture located in West Village. I read mixed comments on the food, price and services on various Web sites. I could not determine who is right so will have to pay them a visit to be the judge.

But I feel some of the comments are unfair. During the day, there is a 3-course children’s tasting menu at $9.95 with many choices. It is not cheap but it is not excessive either, especially in New York City. Plus looking at the top picture, I like this level of decorum. Sweetiepie seems like an amazing place to host a birthday party for grown ups as well as kids.

One fact remains. I believe there is a need for more family-oriented funky restaurants where your kids can eat a good macaroni and cheese while you savor gravlax with toasts.

The Design Concept behind Sweetiepie

One restaurant element where they caught my attention is the décor. Kids must be thrilled to sit there. The bar section and the red banquets are stylish. The place is split in two spaces: the front restaurant and a second room with murals that screamed parties.

The wackiest extravagance is a table placed inside a giant gold birdcage. As an adult, you need the right attitude to enjoy the added attention. Kids must dream to sit there. Imagine doing a tea party.

The vibe amalgamates Alice in Wonderland with the excess of the Marie-Antoinette era. The dessert palette is decadent. Sweetiepie’s signature $75 sundae easily feeds 6 persons.

Sweetiepie delivers plenty of inspirations for designing a one-of-a-kind kid party. There are photos on their Web site to nourish your creativity.

MORE:
+ Sweetiepie Restaurant – get directions p 212.337.3333
19 Greenwich Avenue, New York, New York, United States, 10014

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+ The Modernist Temple New York apartment of this Indian affluent couple with kids is striking. Ms. Luthra’s grandfather was an engineer who helped build Chandigarh, a planned city in northern India partially designed by Le Corbusier in the 1950s. I love their space. You can admire the details of the apartment on the New York Times.

+ The pewter Daisy Cut Lids embellish the Mason jars. The center hole is big enough to insert a straw. It is adorable for a girl birthday party, a family barbecue or a garden bridal shower. About 31 cents each lid at Candle Soylutions. Via Hostess with the Mostess and Brides.com

+ Torontonians can learn how to cook in a sleek modern kitchen filled with Miele appliances. The Market Kitchen is located at the St. Lawrence Market. The place is only 3 months old. You will be glad to know that the cooking classes are more affordable than at similar venues. The space is available for events. Via Food for Thought

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