Weekend Update on 3.8.12: New York City Vegetarian Food Festival

From my Chocolate Bar to my heart:

The greatest love letters ever given.

Bar Fly Not Yet- Thomas Moore….

Fly not yet, ’tis just the hour,

When pleasure, like the midnight flower

That scorns the eye of vulgar light,

Begins to bloom for sons of night,

And maids who love the moon.

‘Twas but to bless these hours of shade

That beauty and the moon were made;

‘Tis then their soft attractions glowing

Set the tides …

Must I even point out that last weekend I possibly ended up eating  the equivalent of my weight in chocolate? It seems to bring me so much happiness: I can’t deny the love I have for it, at least it’s there when I need it the most.

Chocolate is a true lover.

Last weekend was the New York Vegetarian Food Festival, as I had previously mentioned. I woke up with a start as I made sure to get up early and get ready for the day ahead full of treats and friends.

I chose to wear my “brand new” 60s red vintage dress that I had bought at Beacon’s closet in Brooklyn and paired it with a vintage scarf I had received as a gift, I think.

The line was long when I arrived but this year I was prepared and bought my ticket in advance so I was able to skip right to the front and inside in a matter of seconds.

I excitedly walked in and bumped right into several of my friends and spent some time hanging in the front areas near Daiya & Coconut Bliss (a favorite vegan ice cream of mine!) until our eyes pulled us in several directions and distractions ensued…

Chocolate Coconut Bliss meaning: yes, I am in bliss.

I ran right over to the Mercy For Animals table giving hugs and left my jacket there while I ran to the For The Animals Sanctuary table:

All day this happened while I ate samples of all sorts of things. I ran right over to my friend Sara’s table to say hi and give her a hug, she is the genius behind the incredible vegan marshmallows, Sweet & Sara:

❤

I had to buy a container of Teese, a vegan cheez that tends to be quite hard to order in New York City (Perelandra will carry it soon!) and they gave me a total of 3 bags of Dandies Marshmallows over the weekend as gift! Mm Mmm…I realized that most of the samples I was waiting on-line for I had previously bought and or tried as I am a vegan “foodie”, I try everything at least once just to see if I like it or not.

I waited patiently online for my friends shop, Vegan Bodega and then made my way over to Sun in Bloom’s booth, my favorite brunch stop in Brooklyn so I can grab a mini gluten-free cookie!

Bumping into Ashley, from the PETA table, who I happen to always be happy to see because she’s one of my close friends. (Thank you for always being there for me, Ashley).

I ran over to the raw ice cream table and waited patiently with Jen & Chris, who were running the Humane League Table between PETA and VSpot. (Thanks Danny for the Quinoa!)

After running around most of the day and watching  a few panelists speak and some cooking demos, I ended up having a delicious and healthy lunch with a friend of mine at JivaMukTea, my favorite cafe in the Union Square Area. I ordered the Spicy Tempeh Caesar Salad and had a Green Machine Juice. After spending time enjoying lunch with my friend, I had to run across town and head to see my father……

Day 2, New York City Vegetarian Food Festival.

Taken and posted in The Village Voice Online…

The second day of the Vegetarian Food Festival proved to be even better than the first and I chose one of my favorite vintage floral dresses I bought at The Vintage Warehouse, pairing it with a black cardigan with bows. (I love bows!)

I still couldn’t wait to arrive some new tasty treats that I knew would be at the festival on Sunday: Vegan Sushi, my new favorite to start with. I grabbed several other samples, bought a bunch of items and received a lovely “mod” ring as a gift that had Black Beans inside of it from:  Wired up Creations(post coming soon!).

Kristy and I made plans to run around together so of course, we bumped into one another with plenty of kisses:

And ran over to try some hot sauce placing tattoo’s on us stating what we strive to be (but may never actually achieve):

Badass!

We hung with our friends; Robyn(momma to be) & Sarah, one of the head organizers for this tasty event!

Running into a few more of our friends….

Elizabeth & John-Flor ❤

While waiting on the line for The Vegan Bodega, I bumped into the owner of one of the brightest smiles I have ever seen: Annie Shannon.

Who mentioned that I should make my way to meet Michelle, the designer of Herbivore clothing. A table that I was trying to slightly, stay away from just because I knew there wouldn’t be much to persuade me to buy this cardigan, that of course: I did end up buying.  🙂 (A Happy lady, this did indeed make me..)

Herbivore Cardigan..with an Anchor. Cardigan with a vintage flavor...

Annie snapped this photo of Kristy & I:

Vegans are smart & stylish! 🙂 <-- Thanks Annie Shannon for the photo 🙂

We relaxed quite a bit more: snacking and munching away and indeed, basking in quite a bit of sugar high euphoria. We ended up being some of the last people at the festival, staying back to help a little bi and hang with my good friend, Melissa.

Volunteering for a minute to answer some questions about The Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary for The Sensual Vegetable who snapped this photo:

With Trista & David K.

That night I had made plans with Diana (Sissy!) & Kneel & Alicia who came in for the festival and was visiting from Texas.  Of course, I somehow made sure we end up at Sacred Chow for dinner!

I ordered the same dish I have been ordering recently which is the power bowl that has “Mama’s Meatballs”, Brown Rice & Collard Greens and brocoli.  Diana had brought in some special treats as she usually does: Cupcakes and Tea! Ah, my sissy knows how to really make me smile amongst plenty of other joys! Though I had indulged during the day in chocolate,  raw ice cream & marshmallows I couldn’t resist the temptation to eat any treat she brings me.

The night turned out to be such a treat as we all giggled away over our delicious dishes and it was sad to bid Alicia another farewell till the next time she is visiting here in New York City. At least Kneel gave me a few songs to sing and some advice I will never forget.

The weekend was a mix of emotions from having a great lunch with a new friend that I am glad to have gotten to know better  to seeing my close friends  and making new ones. This is what life is about: experience….

I truly had not been able to post for a while due to something personal coming up but I do need to mention a special thank you to my friends & people I care about who had rung my phone at all hours, sent text messages and brought me cupcakes(Sissy!) & just made sure I slept well for the few days that I needed them the most.

Wednesday

The day turned out to be better than the last few ones and the weather was nice as my friend Tod & I strolled on over to the NY Dosa Man, where we are regulars and gorge ourselves on delicious vegan dosa’s & Faux Chick’n drumsticks with sugarcane centers.

As we passed Cafe Wha, the cafe & Bar that Jimi Hendrix made famous, or is it the other way around? I had to get a shot of me in front of it: like a true NYC Tourist.

The rest of the night, I made sure to get home and relax, talk to some friends and take it easy…..

And nibble on high quantities of chocolate, because I can always rely on it….

01.22.12: First day of my life…..

This is the first day of my life
I swear I was born right in the doorway
I went out in the rain suddenly everything changed
They’re spreading blankets on the beach….

I was blinded by the blanket of snow yesterday morning when I woke up, yes, it’s not so much the rain but it still was snowing pretty hard. I woke up with Diana in the morning and we continued to have our slumber party as we sit on my bed doing our makeup and fixing up for the day at the same time as watching the movie with Anna Faris, “What’s your number?” ….

Good Morning!

We were acting pretty silly in this photo as I have a puffy headband on my head and Diana is sporting a side pony tail. This is what fun is made, especially waking up to the first snow storm of the year. I headed into Manhattan that afternoon  to stand in front of INTERMIX. A few of us were out there through the snow and after we ran over to S’nice for a bit of warm food and relaxation and then I ran to Sephora and did my nails:

Bringing back the multi color nails!

I returned home and ended up relaxing the rest of the night, listening to some good tunes and spending time with my roommate. Sometimes, this is all I crave: to do absolutely…nothing.

This morning I awoke to the first song of my day: Daydream Believer….

Oh, I could hide ‘neath the wings of the bluebird as she sings
The six o’clock alarm would never ring
But it rings and I rise wipe the sleep out of my eyes
The shavin’ razor’s cold, and it stings..

It’s quite intriguing how the first song of the day that you hear can sometimes set what you might feel the rest of the day. I am daydreaming….and relaxing. I have a lot to do today but I decided to also take it easy at the same time. Especially as I sip my beloved tea and write out this blog.

Today I felt like wearing flashes of color over a simple black dress:

Snow bunny...Cardigan: Beacons Closet. Dress: Urban Outfitters(13 years ago), Boots: Steve Madden, Tights: Beacons Closet, Headband:Vintage, Jewelery: Cow Hugging Necklace from Vegan Etsy and vintage bracelet with an Aries symbol. Belt: Vintage.

I am in what i call a stoic state of mind right now as today I was invited to a Wetlands party at Brooklyn Bowl. If you have never heard of Wetlands: The Wetlands Preserve was a live music venue in Tribeca, New York City, that closed in 2001. The club was located on Hudson and Laight Streets, near the Holland Tunnel. Founded by Larry Bloch on February 14, 1989, the club was a center for environmental activists. – taken from wikipedia.

I grew up going to Wetlands to see numerous bands, watch as my father and his friends took part in projects for the club and or attended it’s parties. I remember every moment like it was just yesterday; I met dozens of intriguing musicians, artists whom have made their art into their careers. Again, just inspiring! How would life be without having inspiration? Meeting someone who can inspire you with their poem? Only recently, I met a poet and he recited one of his to me a few weeks ago; this indeed was one of those moments in my life where inspiration brings you to where you are currently. I exclaimed how much his reciting filled me with such joy, almost with tears in my eyes. (I truly am sensitive and words can affect me very deeply). I thank him for sharing his words with me.

Anyway, tonight’s benefit for Wetlands is actually also a yearly anniversary (sigh) of someone who passed away and each year we hold a concert in his behalf, David Nolan. Dave Nolan was a very close family friend of mine and he left behind his sweet daughter and wife…I miss him so much. He was someone who REALLY knew his music; a radio dj, recorded for bands and worked with music all his life. He was a true inspiration and I will always miss him.

Until next time….toodles!