A Cherry Tree Grows in Brooklyn

"I'm fascinated by the Japanese fashion scene

Just an American girl, in the Tokyo streets"

(Gwen Stefani, "Harajuku Girls")

This past Saturday was a perfectly sunny and warm spring day. Sam had to work so I spent most of the day with my sister, brother-in-law, nephew and niece, brunching, strolling around Park Slope, and visiting the Brooklyn Botanic Garden for the annual cherry blossom festival, Sakura Matsuri. There were trees that hadn't reached peak bloom yet, so this weekend would be a nice time to visit the gardens as well, but they won't have any performances or activities featuring Japanese culture.

I previously posted about cherry blossom festivals in "Sakura" and "Spring 2011 Events", but it had been several years since I last went to the one in Brooklyn, and I was surprised to see how many young people came dressed up to show off their Japanese street style-inspired fashions; and I don't mean traditional kimonos or geishas, though I did see some of those. I'm talking about cosplayers, like Harajuku girls meets manga and anime and Sailor Moon, meets Goths and top hats and parasols. Not really my thing, but it was interesting to look at.

I snapped a quick photo of a mini fashion parade of people, but the sights for me were the lovely cherry blossoms.

We walked back to my apartment and ended the day by ordering Japanese food for dinner and watching Ice Age on the Blu-ray player. I've always liked Ice Age, and Peter wanted to watch it, but have you ever noticed that there are no female characters in the first film other than the baby's mother who just disappears? (I found an article that goes into more detail on The Hathor Legacy, a site that "searches for good female characters in TV, books, movies, comics and other media," called "Ice Age: setting female characters back a few millennia...".)

Spring It On

"sweet spring is your

time is my time is our

time for springtime is lovetime

and viva sweet love"

(e.e. cummings)

Congratulations to Grace and Tommy on having their 3rd baby this weekend! We're so happy for you, and excited for the new addition to our growing nephew and niece clan. We can't wait to meet baby Micah soon.

It finally feels like spring, and I just want to put away my winter coat with confidence and slip on some sandals. In the meantime, I'll enjoy the beautiful weather while it lasts. Below are some photos, mostly from my Instagram, from the start of this season.

Jennifer Chun Sample Sale

With my friends Leslie and Christine, I helped fashion designer Jennifer Chun plan and coordinate her sample sale 2 weeks ago. Jenny is so talented and her clothing is gorgeous, and I'm lucky that we're family now through marriage.

Preview SS 2013/shop FW 2012, flower arrangement of wrapped roses/tulips/greenery,
dessert, and labeled water bottles

Easter

I was sad not to spend Easter with my nephew and niece, but was happy to see them a few days earlier when we spent the day together at the American Museum of Natural History. We went to the Whales: Giants of the Deep exhibit, and of course saw the dinosaur bones and the Hall of Ocean Life. I gave Peter clear pastry bags full of Annie's Cheddar Bunnies, made to look like carrots, which were great museum snacks.

Cheddar bunny "carrots"

On Easter Sunday morning, Sam and I went to Grand Central Terminal to take the train to Westchester for church, but we just missed it by seconds. We took the subway up to Redeemer's East Side morning service to celebrate the day with Reverend Tim Keller instead, and enjoyed some of Handel's Messiah by the choir and orchestra. I also enjoyed a cup of coffee in the morning and a Bloody Mary in the afternoon, which was significant because I had fasted from coffee and alcohol during Lent. Later, we watched Michigan easily beat Florida to make it to the Final Four for the first time in 20 years.

Redeemer Easter bulletin, post-Lent drinks, and Michigan basketball

I Love Candy

Despite not spending Easter with the kiddies this year, I've been having my own fun with Easter sweets and treats! I would say that after Halloween, Easter is the holiday with the next best candy selection. I think I even prefer Easter candy, with its pretty pastel packaging and adorable bunnies and eggs.

Red velvet egg, Swedish Fish eggs, classic chocolate bunny, and marshmallow egg

Spring-Inspired Nails

In addition to Easter candy, I've also been entertaining myself by painting my nails with spring-inspired colors.

Loving the spring-y nail colors

{Clockwise from left: OPI Hawaiian Orchid with Sephora by OPI Only Gold For Me / Essie Cantaloupe / Essie Turquoise & Caicos / Sephora by OPI Iris I Was Thinner with Sephora by OPI Flurry Up!}

Flowers

Outside, the flowers have started blooming. The photo below is of a small bed of tulips on my street that are still pressing toward the sky.

Purple tulips coming up

I'm heading out now for dinner in the city and to watch some Final Four NCAA March/April Madness as Michigan hopefully defeats Syracuse. Have a great weekend!