traditions

We attended one of the most inspiring talks at the tanker ship Mary Whalen PortSide event series. It's like a block away from our apartment, and (as we discovered this evening) it kicks ass. Hosted by Carolina and her magical bottle of Sangria. (I forgot my Bourbon at home.)

Robert LaValva was there and weaved through the complex narrative that led to his launching and nurturing of the New Amsterdam market.

The conversation was deep, meandering through slow food, the history of the Fulton Ferry (before it was known by the name "Fulton"), the parallels of city design between Amsterdam and New Amsterdam... too many tangential subjects to cover here. It was pretty damn cool - had me interested the whole time (and I don't have an attention span.) That market of his truly does have a direct spiritual lineage to the deep past.

Robert's commitment and passion to more ethical, healthful food choices fits in well with these more mindful times we live in. He is a great evangelist for the cause, full of passion and curiosity.

I look forward to visiting his New Amsterdam Market this Fall.

- andfriend

New Amsterdam Market meets on Sunday, August 22 and then weekly starting Sunday, September 12.
Location: South Street between Beekman St. and Peck Slip

da' hype machine

351 van brunt street

Cor! what's that now?

Beneath the cool shade of a tree (that has found within itself the kindness and decency to provide such an amenity) somewhere along a pleasant and charming street in a sweet, but just shy of dandy, neighborhood in Brooklyn borough...



...there is a swath of glass and a wooden door.

Starting in the Fall (of this year: two-thousand-ten, yes) it will be the home of Everbrite Mercantile Company.

In that store will you will find an array of sundries and curiosities that will tickle your imagination, fill your heart with yearning, and hopefully precipitate a flurry of impulse-driven consumerism that would put a "Real" Housewife to shame.

Or sit a while and chat with Mollie Dash, whiling away the afternoon discussing the fascinating minutiae of the Brooklyn indie fashion/style/design scene whilst enjoying a cup of espresso, the both of you attempting your best ironic impression of those upper class Ladies Who Lunch.

Anyway. A store comin' at ya, in real bricks and mortar and wood.

I'll drink to that.

- andfriend

What's with the spinny head?

Well. I'm glad you asked.

You see: a happy face makes everything better.

So I figured why not use it as a "wait cursor" for the site. You know, instead of a boring spinning orb.

HAPPY FACES RULE!

  - andfriend

free? heck yes

Free what? Free hand delivery to all Brooklyn addresses, that's what.

What's the catch? Well you gotta buy something... and it's for BROOKLYN ADDRESSES ONLY. Other than that - no catch.

When checking out in the Shopping Cart, you'll see this Special Courier / Hand Delivery option appear when you select NYC as your destination like so:

Make sure to give a valid phone number and/or email address during checkout so we can contact you to set up a good time to drop off your package.

Why am I doing this? Because I feel like it, that's why.

Plus I love Brooklyn, baby.

  - andfriend

to simplify the process, here is this hotlink for Brooklyn NY folks: http://www.ebmerc.com/brooklyn

just in: tamika rivera

wow, would you look at these bracelets. yeah, we like color around these parts. hand sewn (with love!) by brooklyn artist and reiki practitioner tamika rivera, each one is unique and super-soft comfy to wear. see tamika's cuyo intention bracelets here in the shop.