{simple pleasures} world of wonders: monde des merveilles

“A truly great book should be read in youth, again in maturity and once more in old age, as a fine building should be seen by morning light, at noon and by moonlight.”

— Robertson Davies

far from the simple geometry of downtown chicago's highrises wearing their mies van der rohe influence proudly like a royal cloak; and a mere two-hour train ride from the elegant cityscape offered up by haussmannian paris, lies the fine art nouveau architecture of victor horta + henry van de velde and the grandiose castles of yore in belgium. architecture from all genres, both secular + religous, is indeed just as enchanting by day as by night, at dawn or at dusk. 

{simple pleasures} chasse au trésor: treasure hunt

“Breathe in Paris, it preserves the soul.”

— Victor Hugo

chasse au tressor: around every corner, a new visual treasure awaits. today's simple pleasures are little streets offering strapping cobblestone streets and sparkling flora.

i'll be taking a little break from writing here at finny+dill to seek out treasures through europe, via a road trip through europe with friends from spain + france and with the help of some fantastic guides from seasoned travelers like conscious city guides + eco cult. if you're traveling, look to these sites for some of that good eco info on where to eat, where to sleep + and where to find local wares.

i'm looking forward to posting again in august with some fantastic new ethical brands and of course i'll pepper you with pics of my vagabonding ways + happy days.

until next time, stay green dear hearts!

{simple pleasures} palais de tokyo: modern + contemporary art

“What’s the world for if you can’t make it up the way you want it?”

— Toni Morrison

palais de tokyo: the artists i've seen on exhibit at palais de tokyo are truly conjuring new worlds of their own + presenting them through all mediums here. some people admire modern art at arm's length, but i wholeheartedly embrace it. this paris museum houses modern + contemporary art, along with some of the best reading nooks in town for book worms like yours truly {bright, bean bag seating upstairs; comfy couches in a quieter milieu downstairs}. le smack is their vibrant in-house cafe, and the outdoor seating area is the place for a great view of the city {effeil tower included} + pups are allowed on the patio. the great minds behind palais de tokyo are now bringing us a bookstore + a new restaurant. open every day except tuesday from noon until midnight. are you ready to explore these brave new worlds?

check it out!

{simple pleasures} ombres et lumières: shadow + light

“I thought the most beautiful thing in the world must be shadow, the million moving shapes and cul-de-sacs of shadow. There was shadow in bureau drawers and closets and suitcases, and shadow under houses and trees and stones, and shadow at the back of people’s eyes and smiles, and shadow, miles and miles and miles of it, on the night side of the earth.”

— Sylvia Plath

ombres et lumières: while it's true, the architecture + the immaculate unpigmented palette against the deep azure sky captured my attention, it was the shadows cast across the visage of this church that truly captivated me. reflected upon its face were the shapes + forms of the town's aged ferris wheel. i've always thought there was something quite magnificentl about shadows.

{eco travel} sustainable new york: 24 hours in the big green apple

a 24-hour photocentric + foodcentric jaunt through the city that never sleeps {well, sometimes it does, but we're heading to the places that are up early in the morning + stay open late into the wee hours of the night}. we're doing new york the plant-powered + eco way. welcome to the big green apple.

okay, so you've been to the guggenheim museum, toured the metropolitan museum of art, stood wide eyed before the lady of liberty, and traversed through central park. now it's time to really dig in, boys + girls. these are the places to sate your appetite; veggie eats + sustainable sites ahead:

b r e a k f a s t // l i t t l e  c h o c  a p o t h e c a r y

this is little choc apothecary. the first time i had a crêpe was in france. and it was magnifique. but that was ten years ago.

a crêpe is a moist, warm pastry: a thin, porous pancake envelopes sweet or savory fillings; think chocolate, berries + bananas or fresh veggies. as someone who is both plant powered + gluten free, i've hoped to bump into a venue that creates veg friendly + gf crêpes. i've been waiting, yes, patiently, since i first had that delectable dessert ten years ago.

the wait is finally over. and it was well worth it, my friends.

l a   c r ê p e

this is the toasted almond + clotted cream crêpe with fresh, nectarous raspberry sauce {fruits + veggies come from local farms}. it was so good it was disorienting.

t e a   t i m e 

expect a vast selection of healing teas + vitalizing sunlight spilling into every corner of this cafe {it rivals the most charming cafes in paris}. happy plants abound + dulcet french music fills the air. the warm + inviting atmosphere is perfect for getting writing or work done.

i would plan an entire trip to new york around the crêpes at this cafe. yes, they're that good.

s h e ' s  t h e  b o s s

this is julia kravets, fashion model + fearless entrepreneur; pioneer of plant-based pastries + healthy eats chef. she is the proprietress of this first fully vegan + gluten-free crêperie in new york city. in my book, she's the boss of brooklyn.

l u n c h // c l e m e n t i n e   b a k e r y

this is clementine bakery

. the folks here refer to themselves as the friendly neighborhood cake dealers. and they are also wheeling + dealing the best vegan, gluten-free bagels this gal has had in years.

b r i g h t   l i g h t s ,  b i g   c a f e

this sunny, wide open space offers a restrained palette of white walls + blonde wood + plenty of green-leafed friends. a cheerful milieu for families + meet ups with friends.

t h e  b i g  c h e e s e

this is a before picture. see that bagel in the background with just a smidge of vegan cream cheese? well, i asked for another round of cream cheese {the truth is, if i could, i would have ordered an entire vat of it}, well hmph, the after picture never happened.

as you can guess, i ate it too quickly.

this here is the schmancy sandwich with baked tofu, spinach, avocado, pesto + the most flavor one can possibly pack into a simple, yet deeply satisfying menu offering. oh my little heart.

d i n n e r // c h a m p s

champs diner is the place for all the comfort food you can dream up. and more 90's music than you ever thought was possible to resurrect. tater tots, nachos + m.c. hammer? yes, ma'am. hot dogs, philly cheese "steak", cauliflower po boys, frothy shakes + greasy fries. yesss. and breakfast food for dinner. mhmm. we only live once, so go on + do it {unless you believe in reincarnation}, then you should still do it. in this lifetime + in the next.

b r o o k l y n   f a s h i o n   +   d e s i g n   a c c e l e r a t o r

this is me at the brooklyn fashion + design accelerator. where exactly is ethical fashion born? forget stories of storks, this is where all good things take shape in the world of sustainable fashion in new york. bfda is a hub that provides pioneering designers with the resources they need to transform their ideas into successful green businesses.

z e r o   w a s t e   d r e a m s

some of my fave ethical fashion companies are headquartered here including men's clothier glass house shirtmakers + study ny. if you're in the area + are interested in learning more about the world of eco textiles + fair trade fashion, definitely call to set up a time to pop in for a tour. i might be biased, but the tour guide, faye lessler, is not only one super stylish gal, she's also smart + informed, and she is the brilliant mind that has brought to life one of my fave eco lifestyle blogs sustaining life. bfda also has a dynamite blog. can't get enough of either. both blogs are worth bookmarking + adding to your feedly queue.

l e   c h a t

this is poncho. the brooklyn apartment i stayed at came fully equipped with the most gracious host + hostess, artists + activists who shared similar values, oh and to my surprise, this sweet + cuddly cat. yes, it was one happy trip.

for the definite list of new york city vegan + vegetarian restaurants, visit activist + model renee peters's plant-based restaurant guide at model 4 green living. renee is kind of amazing, and her exhaustive list of veg venues in nyc is pretty near perfect. 

until next time, stay green dear hearts! ♥

{images by ev // image of yours truly by the lovely miss lessler}