A Creative's Guide to NYC: Brooklyn
Today I am SO EXCITED to share a project with you all that the Brooklyn, Manhattan and Long Island Rising Tide Society chapters have been working on for MONTHS!! We wrote a FREAKING TRAVEL GUIDE, guys!! #dreamjob
So if you are traveling to NYC sometime soon, consider yourself a creative or at least a fun person, and love a good adventure, we have got you covered! I will share this in three installments + Brooklyn is up first because I am biased + there's no shame in my game.
BROOKLYN GUIDE FOR CREATIVES:
Culture: Inspired places + hidden gems
Greenwood Cemetery: It’s beautiful, and if you climb all the way to the top there are gorgeous views of the city. There are also a ton of famous people buried there which can help you piece together a lot of the city’s history (Leonard Bernstein, Boss Tweed, Charles Ebbets, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Louis Comfort Tiffany, Horace Greeley to name drop a bit). Heads up, they are real strict on closing hours, but a beer hall opened close by….greenwood park (in the booze section). http://www.green-wood.com
Brooklyn Museum: Large museum featuring 1.5 million unique and diverse collections. Past ones have included works from Jean-Michel Basquiat and Kahinde Wiley, and the museum is currently featuring a retrospective on boomboxes by Tom Sachs. The first Saturday of every month is “Target First Saturdays,” where you can see exhibits, dance, and participate in art activities, all for FREE! (Location: Prospect Heights) www.brooklynmuseum.org IG: @brooklynmuseum
Brooklyn Heights Promenade: Stroll along the picturesque walkway along Cobble Hill and Historic Brooklyn Height’s Neighborhoods, while enjoying the best view of Manhattan out there! It’s a great spot for a morning walk, sipping coffee, or just reading a book and soaking up the views.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden: Brooklyn Botanic Garden is an urban botanic garden that connects people to the world of plants, fostering delight and curiosity while inspiring an appreciation and sense of stewardship of the environment. http://www.bbg.org/ (Park Slope)
Grand Army Plaza: Grand Army Plaza is a public plaza that comprises the northern corner and the main entrance of Prospect Park featuring the “Soldiers’ and Sailors’” Arch. (Park Slope)
Morbid Anatomy Museum: A museum, coffee shop, library and event space. See a variety of exhibits and of things nobody is interested but us, such as medical wax sculptures from the 1800’s, or make take a taxidermy class or watch a silent film on witchcraft through the ages. Great coffee to boot with lots to look at in the cafe if you’re not up for an exhibit. They also host regularly host the famous Morbid Anatomy Flea-market which happens often, but check their website for dates. www.morbidanatomymuseum.org (Gowanus)
Brooklyn Bridge photo by Eileen Meny of Eileen Meny Photography
Food + drink:
Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream: Best Vegan Ice Cream: DELICIOUS http://www.vanleeuwenicecream.com/ (Boerum Hill + Williamsburg + in Manhattan - East Village and West Village)
Farmacy: old fashioned ice cream parlor with games, delicious treats and a laid back environment. http://www.brooklynfarmacyandsodafountain.com/ (Carroll Gardens)
Ample Hills Creamery: Best Ice Cream in NYC http://www.amplehills.com/ (Park Slope + Manhattan - Hell’s Kitchen and Chelsea)
Song: Best Thai food (Park Slope)
Four and Twenty Blackbirds, amazing artisanal pies by the slicehttp://www.birdsblack.com/ (Gowanus Brooklyn)
Mac Shack: This little hidden gem has the best mac & cheese in NYC. It’s small and coss. Perfect for take out but nice to sit and eat at their high bar tables. You have to try the lobster mac, the curry shrimp mac . . . and really just all the flavors. http://macshackny.com/ (Clinton Hill)
Dough Donuts: The constant line out the doors of the this small doughnut shop says it all. Hibiscus, Nutella, Coconut, and Dulce De Leche are some of their amazing flavors. The donuts are made in front of you and are huge (but not one judges you if you get two all for yourself). It’s a must visit and don’t worry, the lines move fast! http://www.doughdoughnuts.com/ (Bedstuy)
Dough Donuts by Chi-Chi Agbim of Two Twenty
Peter Pan Donuts & Pastry Shop, the best donuts in NYC, nay the world (disagree, come at me!). Low key and old school coffee shop vibes and donuts that will mend a broken heart and help you reach enlightenment. http://peterpandonuts.com/ (Greenpoint)
Dunwell Donuts, The only place I’ve ever been where vegan baked goods have tasted as good if not better than non-vegan baked goods. Try the PB&J donut if they have it available. Real hip and chill vibes. http://dunwelldoughnuts.com/ (Williamsburg)
Uncle Louie G’s: Their motto is “Italian ices and ice cream so good, they’ll make you feel like a kid again.” They ain’t lyin’. A classic Brooklyn treat. www.unclelouiegee.com (Multiple Locations)
Cafe Pedlar: 210 Court St. Coffee shop serving Stumptown, In Pursuit of Tea, plus sweet and savory baked goods www.cafepedlar.com @cafepedlar (Cobble Hill)
Gino’s, delicious old-school Italian food in authentic, garlicky setting. http://ginosbayridge.com (Bay Ridge)
Tilda: Excellent food and coffee. HOWEVER, if you only had to get one thing I would say get the chocolate chip cookie. It rivals Levain’s, and they also do a chocolate chocolate cookie with bits of olive in it to give it some nice salt-y flavor layering. (Clinton Hill) http://www.tildaallday.com @tildaallday
Fette Sau: Euro style BBQ joint. Don’t be afraid of the line. Get a growler of beer from the bar to wet your appetite while waiting for the amazing food. Very busy once the weather get’s nice. Best to go with about 4-6 people so you can divide and conquer the food/table/beer line. (Williamsburg) http://www.fettesaubbq.com
Maison Premiere: New Orleans Styled Oyster Bar. Just won the James Beard award for best bar in the city, so I bet it’s going to be pretty packed these days. However, it’s a gorgeous space with and outdoor patio. $1 oyster happy hour where you actually get to pick your oysters and not be given a mixed plate of “east coast oysters”. (Williamsburg) http://maisonpremiere.com
Greenwood Park: Indoor/Outdoor Beer Hall (S. Park Slope/Windsor Terrace) http://greenwoodparkbk.com/blog/
Slowteria: Delicious, authentic and creative tacos and cocktails in a cool, casual setting with an awesome outdoor patio out back. Located at the bottom of Carroll Gardens, easily accessed by car and with easy parking too! Excellent service, kid friendly and delicious! http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/la-slowteria/
Grimaldi’s Brick Oven Pizza: Best pizza in Brooklyn...maybe... (Dumbo) http://www.grimaldis-pizza.com/home
River Cafe: The restaurant with the best view of the Manhattan skyline. (Dumbo) http://therivercafe.com/
River Cafe by Rachel of CR Creative Studios
Beehive Oven: In May 2014 BeeHive Oven opened its first restaurant in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY serving comfort food that takes one to a feeling of “home.” BeeHive takes great care to make everything in house. In fact they like to say they make everything but the honey and hot sauce. When you sit down for a meal at BeeHive Oven, you will taste the care that goes into every dish. They source the best ingredients they can find and source them properly. Many of the ingredients are locally sourced, however there are times that the best ingredients come from a little distance away. No matter where the ingredients come from, each bite will tell you that your meal was made with the utmost care. Chef Treva's recipes come from classic training and years of experience from many generations. Each dish, reflects a heritage but is updated to reflect a taste that takes you “home.” The dishes are not artisanal or forced but simple and delicious that cause many guests to tell stories of growing up. It is the best compliment to have a guest say the meal reminds them of someone they love. (Williamsburg) http://www.beehiveoven.com
Tom’s Restaurant: Classic diner food with a Brooklyn twist, enough wall ephemera to keep you entertained, and homemade, fresh and portions that’ll make you happy. Known for their breakfast/brunch, ordering anything that should be buttered comes will get you a surprise side of homemade butters (cinnamon, strawberry, and mango- I always take home the leftovers). If you arrive and there’s a line wrapping around the building- don’t fret because it not only goes fast, but the delightful staff will come out and serve the line samplings of their menu from turkey bacon, to cookies, to even coffee. (Prospect Heights)
Cafe Mogador: On any night at Café Mogador, expertly braised tagines are served alongside house-made bread fresh from the tandoori oven. At the core of the menu are Moroccan-Israeli traditions, yet French, Indian and New American flavors also reflect the heritage of the people who have helped create the menu over the years. Sourcing organic ingredients wherever possible, the restaurant prides itself on quality and consistency. The curved wooden bar offers a wine list boasting some of the best value and vintages in the city and a versatile list of seasonal hand-made cocktails. Friendly staff welcome guests like family, and over thirty years of history permeate the candle lit space. (Lower East Side + Williamsburgh) http://www.cafemogador.com
SEA: Amazing Thai food with a unique and serene ambiance.(Williamsburg) http://seathainyc.com/
Soco: Southern food with a twist is paired with cocktails & DJ sets at this sleek active scene. http://socobk.com/ (Clinton Hill)
Sweet Chick: Gourmet chicken & waffles star at this hip, down-home Southern comfort-food resource with cocktails. (Williamsburg + Lower East Side) http://sweetchicknyc.com/
Habana Outpost: With a year-round To-Go location and a fabulous outdoor area open in Spring/Summer, Habana Outpost’s Brooklyn location promises delicious food, killer margaritas, and a fun time. They screen free outdoor movies on Sundays and frequently host family-friendly events. http://www.habanaoutpost.com (Fort Greene)
Oasis Falafel: So Mamoun’s in LES is the best, but if you want to keep it in Brooklyn and you love pickled cabbage, Oasis is for you. Killer babaghanouge while you’re at it. (Williamsburg)
DRINKS:
Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club: Pretend you’re visiting the most rockin’ retirement community in Florida as you drink and play shuffleboard. Great for parties or just showing up for some beverages and games. http://www.royalpalmsshuffle.com/ (Gowanus)
Bar Bruno: 520 Henry Street. Low key Mexican themed cafe, great for drinks or brunch - some outdoor seating, cute bar, good overall atmosphere. Also a good place to have a drink while waiting for your name to be called at Lucali, some of the best pizza (and BYOB!) nearby. www.barbrunonyc.com (Carroll Gardens)
Fancy Nancy: Brightly colored retro bar with comfort food and signature cocktails.www.fancynancybk.com (Bed Stuy)
SISTERS: An art deco dream bar with all day food and drinks and a back room for live music and DJs. Come for the drinks, leave wanting to redecorate. http://www.sistersbklyn.com/ (Clinton Hill)
Stoptime: Speakeasy with nightly live jazz. Come classy. http://stoptimebar.com/ (Bed Stuy)
Surf Bar: A cool night or day time bar and restaurant with a fun experience unlike any other. Let’s just say it bring the beach to the middle of Brooklyn! Come here all year long and expect a summer vibe. (Williamsburg) http://brooklynsurfbar.com/
Business: Co-working spaces + Shopping small:
Shackleton Thomas: Husband/Wife Furniture and Pottery Makers just opened an outpost from their Vermont workshop in Brooklyn Heights. Gorgeous pieces, handmade, and truly amazing people. Not on the cheap! But great for gifts. I mainly want to make more money so I can one day buy a bed from from Charlie. http://www.shackletonthomas.com @shackletonthomas
Shackleton Thomas photo by Eileen Meny of Eileen Meny Photography
Artists & Fleas: indoor hip market with dozens of independent makers and collectors showcasing art, jewelry, fashion, design and vintage. http://www.artistsandfleas.com/ IG: artistsandfleas (Williamsburg, Brooklyn and Chelsea Market, Manhattan)
Industry City - “The Landing”: Indoor industrial space in the growing Sunset Park area between Park Slope and Bay Ridge, is this little gem! The Landing is a great co-working space that does not require payment, offers sweet treats and coffee, and has great indoor and outdoor spaces for creatives to mingle and take a little time off. (Sunset Park) http://www.cityfarmny.com/#!the-landing/vb55l
Berg’n: A Brooklyn beer hall with great food, indoor and outdoor picnic style tables for a friendly all day hang out and co-working space. http://www.bergn.com/ (Prospect/Crown Heights)
Artists and Fleas photo by Rachel of CR Creative Studios
Budget: Do like the locals do (+ money saving tips)
Juliana’s Pizza: get it to-go and have it as a picnic in the park (Brooklyn Bridge Park), http://www.julianaspizza.com/. (Brooklyn Heights)
Hanna Food: This might seem weird because it’s legit just a deli/grocery. However, they make baller sandwiches. Legend has it that if you went there enough you would get to create/name a sandwich. This is how the current lineup is filled with sando’s with names like, The Ex-GF, Hannibal, Michael Jackson, Alexandra, The Hangover, and Hannibal (a tofu cutlet sando with brie, and apple, and avocado). Grab it and walk over to McKerran Park. (Williamsburg, Lorimer Stop) http://www.yelp.com/biz/hana-food-brooklyn
Coney Island Beach Fireworks: From the end of June to Labor Day there are free firework show every Friday night at 9:30 pm. http://www.coneyisland.com/tourist-information (Coney Island)
L Train Vintage: Multiple locations of cheap, warehouse, and unique vintage off the L line. You’ll be amazed what you go home with, but be sure to inspect your pieces for rips or stains. http://ltrainvintage.com/
Street Food Carts & Trucks: Guaranteed amazing. If you’re in any major tourist areas, head a block over for the cheaper carts.
Best "window-shopping" walks:
Smith St.: From Brooklyn Heights to Caroll Gardens a fun energetic street with cool shops and restaurants to explore.(Brooklyn Heights/Caroll Gardens) http://www.smithstreetbk.com/
Montague St.: Beautiful stroll down a fun street with chic shops and restaurants. Start from Court St. + Montague all the way to the Brooklyn Promenade. (Brooklyn Heights)
5th Ave.: From Park Slope to Sunset Park a strip of some of the best shops and restaurants in Brooklyn. Start on 5th ave. + Atlantic all the way to 5th ave. + 18th st. (Park Slope/Sunset Park)
Bedford Ave.: A majority of the cool things that happen in Williamsburg can be found on the Bedford Ave strip. A trip to Williamsburg isn’t complete without it. You can start on Bedford + North 6th St. And have fun exploring from there!
Inspiration: Instagram-able spots
Brooklyn Bridge Park: Cool outdoor space with outdoor art, carousel, multiple restaurants and lots of green space with a panoramic view of the Manhattan skyline. http://www.brooklynbridgepark.org/. Instagram @brooklynbridgepark (Brooklyn Heights)
photo of Jane's Carousel at Brooklyn Bridge Park by Eileen Meny of Eileen Meny Photography
East River State Park: waterfront park with close-up stunning views of the Manhattan skyline. Tons of food spots close by. Park includes nice bathrooms, play area for kids, a soccer field and picnic tables. http://nysparks.com/parks/155/details (Williamsburg)
Smorgasburg, very popular weekend food celebration. Lots of vendors with a variety of food and probably the latest craze (cro-nut, raindrop cake, or whatever is next). Usually crowded but Sundays at Prospect Park tend to have shorter lines. http://www.smorgasburg.com/ (Williamsburg-Saturday, Prospect Park-Sunday)
Prospect Park, a HUGE park full of trees and rolling hills in the heart of Brooklyn. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the same dude who designed Central Park, he declared this park his masterpiece so you know it’s good. Great for running or biking and also great for just hanging out. https://www.prospectpark.org/
Bushwick Street Murals: Get off at the Morgan L stop and wander
BK Heights Murals: Get off at the F High Street Stop to see the “Yes” mural and you can easily wander to the neon murals
Coney Island Art Walls: An outdoor museum of street art. (Coney Island) http://coneyartwalls.com/
Williamsburg Bridge: A fun walk with a cool view and an awesome pink bridge! (Williamsburg)
Brooklyn Heights Brownstones: The perfect place to get lost and admire the beautiful brownstones of Brooklyn. Perfect to walk through before or after you walk to the Brooklyn Promenade. Corner of Clinton St. + Remsen St. all the way to the Promenade entrance on Remsen.
Eastern Parkway: Gorgeous tree lined street, take it all the way up to Prospect Park and relax there!
Contributors:
Megan Elizabeth: Megan is an abstract artist, Rising Tide Society leader and supermom living and working in Brooklyn, NY. Her work is available at Kristen Coates Gallery in Newport, Rhode Island and at Mac + Murphy in Charleston, SC, in addition to in her online shop. She loves to enjoy the city, take photos (on her iphone), drink coffee, and spend time with her family and friends on “NYC adventures”. Follow along on with her on the journey as an artist and mother in NYC on instagram at @artbymegan and online at www.artbymegan.com.
Candace Camuglia: Candace Camuglia is a photographer and artist born in Staten Island, raised in Tokyo, and made in Brooklyn. She is the founder of Whom Studio, photography for creative brands and beings, which has been built on a foundation of a lifetime growing up and participating in the creative community. When not working with creatives, she is working on a variety of her own personal projects in a varying mediums or scouring New York and the world for the most impressive land and city scapes, collecting found objects in transit. www.whomstudio.com @whomstudio @casualscience
Amanda Michele: Amanda Michele is an abstract watercolor artist living and working in Brooklyn, New York. Her work has been shown across the United States and as far as Australia. She lives with her partner, Matt and dog/studio assistant, Molly Moopy. When she isn’t painting you can find her playing ukulele, training for a marathon or just exploring this amazing city. Check her out online at AmandaMicheleArt.com and on Instagram at
Luba Grosman: Luba Grosman is a photographer for businesses and families. She creates story driven photography that captures personality of her subjects and connections between them. Portfolio can be viewed at www.lubagrosman.com, IG @luba_grosman.
Rachel Hanon: Rachel is a lifestyle photographer living thriving in Manhattan, NY. She LOVES coffee, Gilmore Girls, and dogs of all shapes and sizes. Check out her work on instagram at @rachhanon, her thoughts on Twitter at @rachhanon, or her full portfolio online at www.rachelhanon.com.
Hannah Lowe Corman: Hannah lives in Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan, where she is an abstract painter and yogi. She could stare at clouds for hours from her apartment balcony, turning them into inspiration for her moody paintings, which can be found on hannahlowecorman.com. Follow her travels and artwork on Instagram @hannahlowecorman.
Jenny Fu: Jenny is a wedding photographer living in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, NY. She moved to New York four years ago from Texas because she wanted to live her dream of working in the big city (but also because she dislikes hot weather). She loves hanging out at home with her french bulldog, exploring the city, and eating all the awesome food New York has to offer. Follow her on her instagram at @jennyfustudio or visit her website at www.jennyfu.com.
MaryAnna Coleman: MaryAnna is an artist living in Manhattan. She primarily paints with watercolors with subjects ranging from animals to houses/buildings/places. Her work is available by contacting her through the website, as well as Artisan Spirit in Spring Lake, NJ. She loves spending time with friends in NYC, enjoying what the city has to offer, making friends with the dogs of NYC, and checking out fun cafes/bars/restaurants. Follow her artistic work and progress on Instagram at @MaryAnnaColemanDesign and her website at www.maryannacolemandesign.com.
Rachel and Chris Gochnauer: Rachel and Chris are married lovebirds living in Brooklyn, NY in a cute apartment they renovated. They love storytelling using the mediums of photo, short films and interior decor. They adore cities, sleek design, movies and amazing cuisine. Check out their online shop for awesome NYC prints and other work at www.crcreativestudios.com and on IG @crcreativestudios.
Andrea Cohen: Andrea Cohen is the owner and designer at Chuppah Studio, a boutique design company specializing in stunning modern chuppah rentals and custom designs. She splits her time between Brooklyn, NY and Los Angeles, CA. Andrea is also a nationally celebrated sculptor and part-time professor at Parsons School of Design. The beach is her favorite place and biggest source of inspiration. www.chuppahstudio.com, IG @chuppahstudio
Erin Braun: Erin Braun is an artist and destination wedding designer living on the Upper East Side in Manhattan, NY with her husband Brett. With experience as a professional fashion designer and abstract painter, she brings a fresh perspective to the world of weddings and events. She loves exploring NYC, coffee, spending time with her family in Ohio and Michigan, gathering inspiration wherever she goes, and traveling whenever possible. Follow along with her journey and work in design, planning, custom invitations, florals, and painting on instagram @erinbraundesign and online at www.erinbraundesign.com
Chi-Chi Agbim: Chi-Chi is a wedding, portrait and lifestyle photographer living in Brooklyn. She’s obsessed with preserving memory and photography is her tool for freezing time. An art lover, hopeful romantic and glass-half-full kinda gal, she finds lots of inspiration in her daily NYC living and travels around the world. http://www.twotwenty.co/
Marina Warner: Marina is a Brooklyn-based attorney and owner of The Warner Firm, a law firm providing legal services to individuals and businesses in the fashion, arts, entertainment, media, and technology industries. She loves discovering new NYC eats (so she doesn’t have to cook) and exploring the Big Apple with her pup. www.thewarnerfirm.co
Eileen Meny: I am a brooklyn based wedding and portrait photographer and have been kicking around new york for the last 8 years. I still have a bit of my hometown CT preppy style, got a little weird studying theater at Brown in college, picked up a taste for whiskey and bit of a sailor mouth working in bars for 7 years, and now am a full time wedding and portrait photographer. I like learning about people and creating images to tell their stories. http://eileenmenyphotography.com insta: @eileenmenyphoto
Daniela Grafman: A native New Yorker from Queens and Brooklyn, on paper, Daniela is a Certified Wedding & Event Planner, has a Bachelor’s degree from Fordham University, and serves as a Board Member for the NY Metro Chapter of the International Live Events Association. Off paper, chocolate is a true passion of hers, she loves to dance like no one’s watching, and her glass is always half full sometimes with an extra lemon. She has been coordinating and planning weddings, corporate events, non-profit galas, personal celebrations, and fundraisers for the past seven years, assisting in the growth of Vision Event Co. as the Chief Amazement Officer & Partner for the last 5 years focusing on event coordination and entertainment production. Www.visioneventco.com @visionsofd
Meghan Stolar Brown: Meghan Stolar Brown is the manager of Two Bright Lights, a network that connects photographers, event planners and vendors with over 400 publishers across the country and around the world. Meghan has extensive event planning and marketing experience at companies like Antony Todd Events and Roubini Global Economics, and understands the challenges and opportunities event entrepreneurs face. Her love for music and events grew from singing and playing piano as a toddler, to performing in recording studios and at weddings and events in the years since. Meghan holds a degree in Music Business from New York University, and lives in New York with her husband and (if everything goes her way) their future dog, “Chet”.
Angelina Montalvo: A Native New Yorker from The Bronx and works in the food and hospitality field. She received Double Bachelor's Degrees in Entrepreneurship & Small Business Management from Baruch College and Baking & Pastry Arts from CUNY BA. She has experience planning children’s parties and has been on-site support for various non-profit and culinary events. Her love and passion is event planning and baking, which inspired her to start her own company, Angie’s Fairies Event Planning, focusing on dessert table services. In interests outside of these fields, include tennis, music, graphic designs, DIY projects and anything in the creative arts. www.afparties.com, IG: @angiesfairies_eventplanning
Alie Bianco: New to New York City, Alie Bianco is a wedding, portrait , and event photographer based in NYC and Washington D.C. Alie Bianco received her Bachelor’s in Fine Art Photography from Towson University in 2010. She continued her studies in Florence, Italy in 2014 and received a Master’s in Museum Studies specializing in Photographic Archives. She currently works for Time, Inc. with the LIFE Picture Collections (yes, almost just like Walter Mitty). Her goal is to continue doing weddings in both NYC and DC focusing on the real relationships and raw emotions of the special day. www.lovecharmphoto.com ; IG: @lovecharmphoto ; FB: www.facebook.com/lovecharmphoto
Nevica Vazquez: Nevica Vazquez is a Business Strategist to creative bosses who want to make their income predictable by consistently booking dream clients. Her love for business and marketing led to a BS in Business Management and a Certification in Business Strategy. She works with creative entrepreneurs who are talented and passionate at what they do. She believes that with your business foundations in place, the right strategy behind you, and your skills & passion guiding you, you can have the profitable business of your dreams. It is her mission to work with creative biz owners on the strategy of their business; so that they can create a life of work they love, while having the time and money to spend with the people who matter most! www.nevicavazquez.com | IG: @nevicavazquez
Shadi Garman: Born in Iran and raised near Seattle, Shadi Garman now happily calls New York City home. Shadi is a wedding and lifestyle photographer, who specializes in natural light and capturing candid moments. She loves succulents, but stress out about their watering schedules. An avid traveler, Shadi has an MA in International Affairs and loves to learn about other cultures. Explore her work here: http://www.shadigarman.com & IG @shadigarman
Yari Santiago: Yari Santiago is a native New Yorker in every aspect and have lived in 4 out of the 5 boroughs! Yari is a planner of fancy events who believes in the beauty of elaborate details. She is also a believer of grace and kindness. Yari loves mani/pedis, anything gold & sparkly and of course everything Kate Spade. Yari currently resides in Williamsburg, Brooklyn (NYC) with her amazing husband. The dream began in 2013 as she began to plan every single detail of her wedding. After 22 years in the workforce, Yari finally decided to follow her heart and pursue her passion and decided to make a drastic career change and do event planning full time. Follow along on her journey of designing and planning events. www.cakeandchampagnenyc.com | IG: @cakeandchampagnenyc | FB: www.facebook.com/cakeandchampagnenyc
Justina Michaels: Justina is a native New Yorker who loves to continue to explore the evolving city. A background in art helps her bring a unique perspective to event planning, whether it be a fabulous wedding at the plaza, or an intimate affair for family and friends. She makes it her mission to understand each and every component of the day and has taken classes ranging from cake decorating to floral and graphic design. When she's not working you can find her in museums looking for inspiration and taste testing every piece of chocolate and cake she can find. www.fittingfetes.com IG: @fittingfetes
Lana Keller: Lana is the founder of Stem & Bloom, a flower subscription service in Manhattan and Brooklyn. She started Stem & Bloom after 14 years working as a fashion designer, drawing on her love of flowers and color. Favorite NYC activities include visiting the Brooklyn Flea and Smorgasburg, going out for tacos and margaritas, and long weekend brunches. www.stemandbloom.com @stemandbloom
Kate Alison Bancroft: Kate Alison is a wedding and portrait photographer based in NYC. After working as a photographer at Disneyland for years, she now captures the fairytales of fun and creative couples with unique images using bold colors. She loves tattoos, glitter, and rock’n’roll. www.katealisonphotography.com @katealisonphotography
Stacey Natal: Stacey Natal is a children’s portrait and event photographer in NYC. She loves to capture the natural essence of childhood. Along with photography, she is now mentoring and coaching other moms that want to start their own creative venture helping them break through the overwhelm with clear cut strategies and mindset work.
Photography: Total City Girl - www.TitalCityGirl.com IG: @totalcitygirl // Mentoring: Life Happens Now - www.LifeHappensNow.com IG: life.happens.now
Zaira Stefani Vallejo: Zaira is a Miami-transplant living (and loving) in New York City. Zaira has been collaborating with industry professionals to create stunning event atmospheres with Nuage Designs since 2012. She also crafts marketing campaigns for the brand, taking concepts from grand ideas to execution across email, blog and social networks. When not playing with textiles or uploading pretty pictures, you can find her enjoying a fancy cocktail, shopping for new shoes or exploring Magical NYC. Connect with her on Instagram @zairavallejo. http://nuagedesigns.com/
Amélie Walker-Yung: Amélie is the owner of Castle Builder Design (www.castlebuilder.com), a web design company in NYC serving creative companies and innovative individuals. She is also the baker and blogger of Cupcakes by Amélie (www.cupcakesbyamelie.com). A New Yorker for almost two decades, Louisiana-born Amélie currently resides with her husband in Brooklyn Heights. IG/Twitter: @cupcakeamelie