NYC // NYPL, Mood, and the High Line
NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 33 East Broadway, New York, NY 10002
I spent a busy Monday exploring three important places in New York City. One which was an iconic tourist spot, one was a culturally famous place, and one highly recommended new location to check out. Each one of them I got a chance to really embrace a moment of living as a local whether it be a student, a designer, or just another inhabitant of the Big Apple; All of them left me truly inspired and excited to just be able to see it in real life. I am so so thankful to Mockingbird Station for providing me the trip of a lifetime! The first one of the trip was the New York Public Library which I'm sure has so many cameos in such as The Sex & the City movie. That's not really the reason I wanted to go there but because its one of the top libraries in the world and the idea of seeing books and books on end has not only a photographic opportunity but such literary appeal. I didn't expect it to be as epic as it was. With all the beautiful classic architecture smack dab in the bustling city - it's even more awesome. Walking in you feel so excited to check out every nook and cranny. It's not like a normal library because of so many people coming and going. The space acts as a tourist attraction, museum, gallery, and of course a fully functioning work/study library. I really wished that I saved this place for last because I really wanted to just sit down and work. As a freelancer, there's always a coffeeshop to go to and although libraries are everywhere - this one made you feel like anything is possible.
A Glimpse of Bryant Park
MOOD FABRICS 225 W 37th St 3rd Floor New York, NY 10018
If you've ever seen Project Runway, you'll know about Mood - Mood Fabrics that is. The store has been super popular among the fashion designers and students of NYC but even more so since the famous hit show went on air with the fabulous Tim Gunn and supermodel Heidi Klum. It always seemed really neat to go inside when they showed it on TV but in real life - omg it's insane! It seems so exclusive because you go up an old fashioned elevator with an elevator doorman operating the lever to send you to Mood on the 3rd floor in the middle of the Garment district. Inside, it's a wall to wall all you need fashion convenient store. They have everything you could possible want or desire for clothing and accessories. Sure, in passing you're thinking, "What's so great about a Fabric store?", but your mouth will drop when you see the endless rolls of different fabrics and cloths. The space is packed with three different floors catering to each type of cloth, material, and even style. I was impressed by the organization it takes to run this store. I think as someone who appreciates the artistic aspect of fashion, I admired walking in to see what the origins of a well designed piece of clothing takes. Sure I've been in a JoAnn's or any normal regular fabric store - but this space oozed creativity. You could feel the aura of every designer walking in with purpose searching for what they needed. I loved see the textures, the colors, and even the people. Because at the end of the day the people are the ones who bring fashion to life. It's not a place I recommend everyone seeing unless you're a fashion hardcore follower or a seamstress or just appreciate great fabric.
THE HIGH LINE 820 Washington Street - New York, NY 10014
Lastly, I was recommended by a friend to go see The High Line. I had never heard about it before and it's not on the top of everyone's go-to travel checklist but its a space to see now that the area is being made into a beautiful park and walkway. The High Line stretches for several blocks and is a great area to see the city on an elevated point of view. I think its a nice place to walk with your spouse, check out with your family, or even just having a nice lunch break.
I'm a huge fan of the artist Olafur Eliasson and when I saw that the place had a small area for an interactive art piece with him, I was super excited. The Collectivity Project is a huge community created installation that features tons and tons of white Legos designed into an imaginative city space. Kids and adults all get to be involved. I loved how unique the art piece was because of all the people who left their initials and the talents of people putting some really intense structures.
I couldn't have asked for a better day to check out these three spots in NYC. All of them are very close to each other - within a good 20 hearty minute walk apart from each other. It gave me room to enjoy the city, pass the people, and embrace all sense of what it means to be a New Yorker. It's so full of energy, inspiration, and diversity that I cannot think of compares to anywhere else in the world.