A COFFEE BEAN ROASTS IN BROOKLYN

GRAB SOME COFFEE - TAKE A SEAT- JASON JOBSON AT BRCDUMBO, Brooklyn has long been the home of painters, craftsman, and artisans of all kinds.   It makes perfect sense that the latest addition to the "new TRIBECA" of NYC delivers a killer brew of coffee.  Be it by the shot, the latte, or a giant iced cold brew, the hottest new business Down Under Manhattan Overpass is Brooklyn Roasting Company.   Brooklyn Roasting opened it's doors a few months ago and just one visit on any given afternoon proves the adage- If you roast it, they will come!   The line out the door speaks volumes about the sweeping change that has occured in DUMBO.    Just three or four years ago there was St. Ann's Warehouse, Grimaldi's Pizza, & The River Cafe - that's it! This area was once forgotten space between Brooklyn Heights and The Navy Yard.   AFTERNOON DELIGHT - COLD BREWED ICED COFFEE Today, luxury condo buildings, and designer shops selling everything from candy to coffee line the streets of this petite ten block neighborhood. 

Brooklyn Roasting sources beans from all over the world.   They are committed to offering New Yorkers best quality Fair Trade, Rainforest Alliance and Organic certified coffees.   Beans go through a taste test before being purchased, and then again after roasting to ensure customers a great tasting product.   The roasting is done in small batches in a Loring Kestrel 1/2 bag roaster - the most advanced small-scale commercial roaster on the market. 

It shows!  The smooth taste of their cold brewed iced coffee is about as addictive as java can be.   If I'm headed to DUMBO, I'm thinking about Brooklyn Roasting Company long before I arrive.  

Visit DUMBO for the afternoon and be sure to hit BRC for the best coffee around.  Have a gourmet lunch at Forager's Market, and for the sweet tooths out there - don't miss Dewey's Candy Shop! (You'll thank me for this one). If you're not headed to Brooklyn anytime soon, get in touch via the website or phone and order your beans today.  Of course they will ship them to you! Shop Brooklyn Roasting Company

BIKE OVER TO THE BROOKLYN ROASTING COMPANY PH: JASON JOBSON

TINY TIM T-SHIRTS - COOL FOR ALL

JOHN BARTLETT & TINY TIM PH: GETTY IMAGESNew York based fashion designer John Bartlett loves dogs.  Bartlett often hosts adoption days in his West Village boutique. JOHN BARTLETT "TINY TIM COLLECTION" PACKAGING All are welcome to stop by and visit with shelter dogs that need a permanent home.   John's own dogs are a huge part of his life.  Tiny TimGRAY TINY TIM T - CLICK IMAGE TO SHOP was the name of his beautiful mascot that became the image of Bartlett's fashion logo.   Tim had three legs, but that never slowed him down.   Unfortunately, THE LATE, GREAT - TINY TIMTim passed away last year after a painful battle with lymphoma.   That's when John had the inspiration to create a collection of really cool t-shirts, hoodies, and casual wear items that could benefit shelter dogs just like Tim.

The Tiny Tim Collection is made from the softest cotton and cut into the most comfortable shapes and styles.   Any guy or girl in your life will love one -or two!   Also, don't forget the kids! 

Shop the collection today. GIRLS TINY TIM HOODIE - CLICK IMAGE TO SHOP  You can feel good about buying these well priced wardrobe staples, and also helping a great cause.   Click TINY TIM to shop.

John Bartlett's collection for the Bon Ton Stores is available nationwideTINY TIM LOGO - CLICK TO SHOP in stores and also at Bon Ton.com

STELLA'S GARDEN PARTY - SPRING 2012

STELLA McCARTNEY SPRING 2012- PH: PAMELA BERKOVICWith the Fall weather getting closer day by day, I'm fondly thinking about a magical afternoon this Spring that was the official kick off to Summer in NYC.   Fashion designer Stella McCartney stayed true to her British roots and staged the ultimate garden party in New York's West Village.   McCartney is known for her understated style and laid back attitude on-and-off the runway.   While most fashion events are stuffy and uptight, team McCartney is able to create an easy atmosphere that comes off cool and chic.   When Stella has a party, you know you are going to have a good time! Who else could make shaved ice, ping pong, and scrabble a backdrop for a runway collection?

There is an authenticity to these events, that just can't be staged.  Partly due to the fact that the parties are always full of Stella's own friends.  And when your friends and family are rock legends and movie stars, there is hardly room (or reason) for getting a big head.ph: PAMELA BERKOVIC 

For Spring 2012, Stella gave us bright colors and intricate prints styled in the signature mix & match combinations that first made McCartney famous.  It was her re-launch of the sleeping French classic  Chloe collection in the late 90's that made headlines.  STELLA McCARTNEY SPRING 2012 - PH: PAMELA BERKOVIC Stella set the fashion world on fire with a mix of fine tailoring and fluid soft shapes.   For Spring 2012, we find bright horizontal stripes worn back to exotic Hawaiian prints.  The collection is full of items that can truly be worn back to pieces shoppers already own.  *This has always been one of the secrets to Stella's success*.  She knows how women shop and never loses sight that the coolest customers build their wardrobe piece by piece. 

The party at St. Luke's in the Field was a breath of fresh air.  Models played croquet, guests drank Guinness, and Stella's friends were able to relax in the private garden setting.   Liv Tyler, Naomi Watts, & Bono  (to name a few!) all stopped by to show their support.  The garden was decorated with small displays of accessories and shoes that became part of the beautiful garden of St. Luke's in the Field.  (This famous garden, open to the public, was featured in the motion picture Doubt with Meryl Streep).

Guests of the party were given a living rose bush on the way out the door via a flower cart, a subtle nod to Stella's passion for sustainable fashion and her effort to make the world a Greener place.   This devout vegan is the only designer working with a major fashion comglomerate (PPR) that does not useROSES FROM STELLA PH: JASON JOBSON leather in any part of her collections.   Bravo Stella!  ST. LUKE'S IN THE FIELD PH: JASON JOBSON

Visit Stella McCartney to view the full collection - and Net-a-Porter to shop the current collection.  

** Stella McCartney NYC  moves to Soho this Fall **

Special thanks to team Stella and the very talented photographer- Pamela Berkovic.

JOHN BARTLETT'S BIG SUMMER PLANS

JB for Bon Ton Collection Launch -Ace Hotel PH: Jason JobsonNew York based fashion designer John Bartlett celebrated the 4th of July this year in a way he has never done before.   As the fireworks were bursting in air - Barlett'sJOHN BARTLETT PH: PETER KRAMER / GETTY IMAGES collections for The Bon Ton Stores were heading to a department store near you.   With over 250 locations in 23 states in the U.S, this is a major development for any fashion designer.   John Bartlett Statements and John Bartlett Consensus will be in stores in August, and the collections will be the largest distribution deal of Barlett's career.   The addition of John Bartlett is a huge bolster to The Bon Ton Men's Department.  While the company will be offering a more designer product, the price points will be in line with what Bon Ton core customers are used to.  

Bartlett fans that might have only dreamed of owning looks from his "Made in Italy" main collection will rejoice when they see the price points that this distribution has afforded.  Most items range from $30 to $100, with some outerwear pieces approaching $200.  JOHN BARTLETT CONSENSUS @ THE BON TON As fashion fans know, a typical runway collection would have an extra 0 on the end of those prices.    Make no mistake, this is classic Bartlett, giving Men what they want to wear.  Masculine, wearable, and fun, this collection makes sense for the guys in your life.    Bartlett says the fit is "trim, but relaxed" and the collection in general is not "over detailed" - those are important points to make as most men don't want to  to feel like a fashionista when they get dressed.  

I know I'll be planning a visit to the nearest Bon Ton store - we don't have one in New York City- YET, but there are many options.   The group is known by several different brand names depending of what part of the country you live in.  Look for Carson Pirie Scott, Bon Ton, The Parisian, Bergner's,  or Boston Stores.   Make life easier and visit the web-site now.  Click John Bartlett at Bon Ton to see more.

SAKS WELCOMES STELLA

SAKS 5TH AVENUE FLAGSHIP WINDOWS LINING 5TH AVENUE

Stella McCartney certainly knows how to make an impression.  The British designer just had a week that most designers can only dream of.   Stella blew into town and started the week co-hosting Anna Wintour's annual Vogue Met Gala.   Late designer Alexander McQueen is the honoree of this years retrospective at the Met's Costume Institute.  Dressing a staggering number of red carpet beauties from Madonna to Rihanna, Stella stole the show! S-T-E-L-L-A SPELLS FUN AT SAKS 5TH AVENUE Read all about the red carpet extravaganza - STELLA at the MET

Amazingly, that spectacular night was just the beginning for Britain's most prolific designer.  Wednesday night Stella was just down 5th Avenue, at Saks 5th Avenue to be precise.  The legendary department store rolled out their red carpet at the famous flagship location as they unveiled the new Stella McCartney Boutique on the second floor.STELLA FALABELLA BAGS AT SAKS 5TH AVENUE

The boutique is beautiful and the mood was festive and relaxed.   The brand is famous for casual cool events that always attract a hipster crowd with an eye for fashion.   Popcorn,  balloons, and park benches really brought a little London charm to the heart of NYC.  (Of course there were Pimm's Cups all around!). 

Artist Jeff Koons and actress/ model Liv Tyler were also on hand to fete their friend as she opened her new boutique. 

Also at the party was one ofJASON JOBSON & LIZ LEE AT STELLA OPENING AT SAKS New Yorks' own famous fashion icons.   American legend Geoffrey Beene always insisted on having all of his one of a kind runway gowns shown on model - Liz Lee.   Liz is as beautiful today as she was in the 80's.   She is also a ray of sunshine and has a heart of gold!

The evolution of the SM collection has happened before our eyes.  Stella burst on the international scene by becoming the "young British girl" to take the reigns at French House Chloe back in the late 90's.  Legend Karl Lagerfeld was leaving the house for the second time and had practically driven the collection into the ground due to his infamous battles with management -(only 1 U.S. retailer was still buying by that time).    Stella's mix and match sensibility and injection of menswear tailoring into the very feminine skirt suit collection was ahead of it's time and a smash hit!.STELLA McCARTNEY & LIV TYLER

15 years later - my how things have changed.   Stella is now a powerful women in her own right,  with her own collection.   Now married with four children, this very busy fashion icon has developed a message and a core customer.   What was once a group of great items is now a serious runway collection.    Keep in mind that Stella has been a game changer in the industry by insisting that the collection be leather free. JASON JOBSON after 3 Pimms Cups & STELLA McCARTNEY This was unheard of in the world of accessories and shoes - before Stella McCartney anyway.  Her Falabella Bag is a total must have! (American menswear designer John Bartlett has also become passionate about obstaining from the use of leather and fur).

The naturally stained and sustainable wood planks underfoot in the Stella Saks boutique carries through the concept of her magnificent new flagship space in Las Vegas at the Crystals Shopping Center.  

While Stella has always been a destination for great knitwear or perfectly tailored pants, the Met Gala is sure to make her a dress and gown resource.  Those famous ladies on the red carpet never looked more beautiful!

To find out more about the Stella McCartney collection at Saks - click SAKS or to shop her collection on-line, click  NET-A-PORTER now.