Archive for the ‘Thrift’ tag
Weekend Treasure Trove
Two of my great loves — pre-Modern interiors and flea markets — join forces in one fantastic mashup: The Brooklyn Flea’s temporary digs at One Hanson Place.

View looking over the mezzanine rail.
During the colder months (till March 28), The Brooklyn Flea is movin’ on up, from its standard location in an empty asphalt lot to the palatial lobby, mezzanine, and underground vault of the former Williamsburg Savings Bank.
If you’re into this sort of thing, it is quite a special experience. The mosaics on the walls and ceiling are spectacular. The food court can be found behind a 6′-thick metal door in the old vault. Vendors populate the old teller booths. The light streaming through the Gothic windows makes the wares seem to glow with their nostalgia.
No need to spend a dime, even. The space is enough of a treasure.

Detail of the mosaic on the back wall of the lobby (seen at a distance in the photo at top).
How to Survive a Cold Snap
Snuggle up with your nearest radiator. Obvi.

How to Survive a Heat Wave
It’s a Tuesday in early August in New York. And damn hot. But miserable as these conditions may sound, there are smart, energy-efficient ways to beat the heat. One solution is detailed below, with expert demonstration by a seasoned city dweller:

1. Find a spot in the apartment with ample room to sprawl out. Your position should be located strategically between open windows and oscillating fans for maximum circulation. Consider your preference for sun or shade, and gauge the sunbeam trajectory throughout the course of the afternoon.
2. Place yourself in your chosen spot in the following fashion: Lie on your back, belly up, legs extended, and tail out. Now, do everything in your power not to break this pose for as long as possible. Nothing else exists. The phone does not exist. Emails are not streaming in. There are no deadlines. No meetings. No errands. All you have to pay attention to is the back of your second set of eyelids, for the next God knows how long.

3. When at last you’ve returned to consciousness from your first extended nap of the afternoon, take a stretch by slowly shifting your front legs (or arms) to the opposite side of your body. As you begin to turn your head in the same direction, your lower half will follow suit. This will also afford you a view of what other creatures in the room are up to. You can yawn now.

4. Once you’re all settled into your new pose, you’re ready to drift back to sleep and wait for either (1) the temperature to drop, or (2) feeding time, whichever comes first.