Rock Shic: Hudson Valley

Hudson Valley

09/08/2016

#747 Birthday Celebration at the Lake House

How cute is this? Piñata and props are from this shop in Montauk called the Candied Anchor, which just has the CUTEST stuff. For more info see here on Rockshic's Shopping Guide to all things Montauk.

My little happy boy at the lake house - this was the night before he turned the big 0-3!!! #rockshicbaby #babymilestones

It’s hard to believe that it’s been nearly two weeks since we celebrated my baby boy’s three-year old birthday on the Lake in Garrison. In point of fact, we celebrated his 2-year birthday in Montauk (see here and here) and I’ve yet to finish all of the postings for that one! Yeesh.

For the past two years, instead of having big full-on birthday celebrations, we’ve opted for more intimate family getaways and outdoor luncheons (the first one on Shelter Island and the second in Montauk). Somehow, I always felt like the big birthday stuff, particularly when the little ones are so green and emotionally unaware, can be a bit tricky. Call me selfish, but I really just want to relish my baby’s birthday with him and him alone (okay plus hubs) ... and well, particularly for 1 year old birthdays, it always seems to be more about the grown-ups than the kid. Doesn't it?

This year however, we’ll be doing our very first big group birthday party (in the aftermath of our family lake-house getaway). I’m pretty jazzed about it, actually -- as we’ll be going all out and doing a barnyard-bonanza themed party at the Brooklyn Zoo. It’s always a bit tricky for my son, you see, who has a summer birthday, so would invariably mean that we'd have to celebrate when school is off and folks might be out of town. For one thing, August is generally the month where everybody’s away on holiday, and for another… well, this will really be the first year where he’ll be mature enough to understand what’s actually happening (I think), and moreover – he’ll finally have his cohort of “little people” that he can celebrate with.

… All to say, mamma’s a bit nervous, but I’ll let you know how it all goes this Saturday! (See here for more details on the zoo party).

Back to our Lake House excursion. It was actually quite a special experience, particularly as my son really got the vibe that something truly unique was going on, and we were able to enjoy our moments together, just the three of us. I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves, but the best part was being able to soak in the outdoors with our little guy, collecting acorns by the water, and chugging rocks into the lake (who knew that happiness can be this simple!). Oh, and he absolutely loved his birthday bike from TokyoBike – he’s been riding it nonstop ever since and rapidly becoming super confident on it, which makes it oh-so-fun to watch (though difficult for this mamma to keep up with, what with her ever expanding belly and all!).

Related:

Baby's First Birthday Celebration

Summer fun (and birthday) on Shelter Island

Precious Summer

Back to Montauk - Where the Heart Sings

Posted on 09/08/2016 at 03:28 PM in City Baby, Hudson Valley | Permalink | Comments (0)

10/11/2015

#704 A Luxurious Afternoon at Thann Sanctuary Spa

Post treatment lounging with the Restaurant Fairy

Happy girl enjoying a cocktail on the terrace #equus #castlehotel

Hanging with Kim of <a href="http://www.yumikim.com/" target="_blank" data-mce-href="http://www.yumikim.com/">Yumi Kim</a>, love her designs!

As a busy career woman, wifey, and mamma – it’s important for me to allow myself to slow down once in a while. That said, I had the privilege last month of doing a private tour to experience the exclusive top-to-bottom treatment at Thann Sanctuary Spa at Castle Hotel & Spa. As you might recall, yours truly went up there back in 2013 (and even celebrated our 5 year anniversary there!).

At the time – more than two years ago – our little Nuke baby was just six weeks old, so juggling him and getting some quality time at the spa was definitely a nonstarter. This go-around, however, mamma got to roll solo! Well… not exactly, I was accompanied by all of my favorite Asian media ladies – Cutie Patroller (who I’m sure you recognize by now!), Kim Phan (the talented designer behind the fashion line Yumi Kim), and Malini aka the Restaurant Fairy.

The entire experience was completely surreal, starting with exquisite cocktails on the terrace, followed by massage therapy (this mamma opted for the traditional Swedish massage, and let me tell you, I was so relaxed I actually fell asleep!). Both pre and post massage, we had the pleasure of indulging in the incredible lounge that Thann is traditionally known for (this is a prestigious Japanese company specializing in spa services back home and bringing their specialty-focused zen experience to the Hudson Valley, so you know they don’t play).

As if that wasn’t pampering enough – post massage, we were whisked away and treated to a specially catered multi-course meal designed to complement our individual spa treatments. Now THAT is luxe to the max!

All in all, I highly recommend heading to Thann for a weekend couples retreat (or just to the Castle hotel for some tranquility time). It’s really the most magical setting, and super close to the city – that one ought to experience at least once!

Oh… and just to top it all off, the spa even offers a weekend getaway package where you can arrive and enjoy a three-course meal with signature treatments, steam room, whirl pool, and the works.

Mimosa and detox? Sign me up please!

Massage and Bubbles at Great Jones Spa

Parting Day at Six Senses Barcelona

Is she not the cutest! Cutie Patroller #loveher

Posted on 10/11/2015 at 08:32 PM in Beauty, Hudson Valley, Luxe Lodgings | Permalink | Comments (1)

02/22/2015

#633 Sunday Attraction – Dia: Beacon

This afternoon, hubs and I took a break from our conspicuous consumption spree in downtown Beacon and went art-scoping at the Dia: Beacon on the Hudson.

This expansive modern museum, which occupies the 300,000 square feet that occupied the former Nabisco box printing factory, is truly quite an impressive sight to behold. The entire space and facility runs on natural lighting, which makes today’s beautiful sunshine all the more fortuitous! We opted to leave our heavy winter coats in the bag, so that we can meander around the exhibits unencumbered and fully able to appreciate all of the installations (many of which could not be easily accommodated by smaller spaces, or “more conventional institutions”).

Below are some photos I took as we wandered and drifted through the long and airy hallways of Dia. Each gallery is devoted to a single artist, with a particular focus and space orchestration in mind. In addition to its current exhibits, Dias also boasts a permanent collection by the talents of Robert Irwin, Bruce Nauman, Andy Warhol, and Dan Flavin. Hope you enjoy!

FYI – Dia: Beacon is just 80 minutes from midtown Manhattan by car or train (from Grand Central Terminal). It’s a short walk from the Beacon Metro-North train station, so you really have no excuse not to come by. PLUS – they have an AMAZING book collection in the gift store (including some fabulous reads for the littles, just saying).

Happy Sunday!

Posted on 02/22/2015 at 12:53 PM in Beacon, Hudson Valley | Permalink | Comments (0)

02/21/2015

#632 Art and Shopping in Beacon, NY

Hola and happy weekend!

Hubs and I decided to go for a mini weekend escape from the city to Beacon, a quaint little Hudson Valley town just an hour and a half north of Manhattan – home to the famous Dia: Beacon Contemporary Art Museum (which we plan to check out tomorrow).

I’ve been meaning to come and see Beacon for some times now, ever since my girlfriend Dream Sequins had put it on the map for me. Apart from being an artist mecca (hello relocated Brooklyn Hipsters), it’s also home to amazing, delicious food (farm-fresh and locally sourced of course), artisanal wine and home-brewed beer, and – the best part – amazing shopping!! In fact, I would venture to say that we both gave our Amex a pretty hearty work-out today just cruising up and down Beacon’s Main Street.

Apart from being both charming and picturesque (with Mount Beacon on one side and the Hudson River at the other as backdrop), downtown Beacon also offers up some fantastic boutiques, with many talented local artists and hand-made/ one-of-a-kind goodies that you wouldn’t find anywhere else. It’s like one big Etsy explosion, met with a Brooklyn twist, with the sensibilities of Hudson Valley artists. All relentlessly cute, and (still) reasonably affordable . I also like the fact that everything is pretty much congregated on one street, right there at your fingertips, and curated with an aesthetic that’s both fun and edgy, completely my vibe!!!

Take a look and come check it out yourself. It’s a fast and easy trip out of the city, great for either a romantic, couples retreat or a girls-weekend!

Posted on 02/21/2015 at 08:11 PM in Beacon, Hudson Valley | Permalink | Comments (0)

10/17/2013

#437 Dreaming in a Castle, in the Hudson Valley

Hotel jacuzzi, love!

Roman arches and thick stone walls – who knew that such a thing was attainable in less than an hour outside of the city? Two weekend ago, hubby and I decided to venture on a mini-getaway to the Castle Hotel & Spa in Tarrytown, in celebration of our five-year anniversary. It was the ideal complement to our indulgent dinner at Masa, plus – we had to head up the Hudson River anyhow for a wedding. (Evidently, all of my friends have decided to get married in the Hudson Valley this year! Which makes sense, given that the Hudson Valley seems very of the moment these days, even likened to Monaco – at least according to the New York Observer).

We had gone to the Castle earlier last year for hubby’s birthday (which, in all honesty, feels like a lifetime ago!). Back then, I had planned a nice, if not food-centric trip for us, which involved lunch at the Castle (in the Garden Room of the hotel restaurant Equus), dinner at the Bedford Post Inn, and loads of eating at the Blue Hill at Stone Barns.

This time however, more than a year and a half later, we were traveling with our six week munchkin in tow, and actually staying overnight at the hotel, which allowed us to explore its beautiful and artful grounds a bit more thoroughly.

The result? Well, it certainly did not disappoint. Our surroundings felt timeless and dare I say… romantic (even given our current status quo of interrupted nights and sleep deprivation – welcome to the “new normal”!).

The service was excellent (which is important when you’re toting around what seems like your entire nursery), and I really can’t say enough about the tranquility of it all!

At some point in the early afternoon, after lounging pool-side in the lazy sun and dining on oysters and imbibing some bubbly, a much more relaxed & serene hubby turned to me and said, “this is truly lovely.” Then and there, my spirits elevated and I knew that all of my planning had paid off.

Okay – so it wasn’t exactly like Barcelona, or Ixtapa, St. Martin, and Montreal – but this was certainly an anniversary for the books… and the luxurious nature of spending a night in a medieval castle (in Westchester no less!) is surely one for the books.

Most importantly, as I looked at the beautiful and opulent surroundings around me, all I could see was my husband and young Nukie, and how perfect they were. Then and there, I couldn’t help but think how tremendously privileged I was! I felt like one lucky gal living in a modern fairy tale of sorts.

Entrance to the Castle

It was a bit too chilly to dip in the pool, but perfect for lounging pool-side!

My little munchkin, eyeing those oysters! Like mummy like son ;)

A pre-treatment snack, the lychees were an excellent touch.

The relaxation room at Thann, the hotel spa. So zen!

Talk about home away from home! (We were in Suite #306, couldn't be happier). Little Nuke is playing with his Skip Hop Treetop Activity Gym (whch travels really well!).

Dining at Equus, the lovely & classic hotel resto, with our 6 week old Nuke in tow (early seating is the key!).

The stately and elegant Oak Room of Equus, great for evenings!

Five years! Way to go :-) #RockShic #familylove #timeflies

My lovely boys at dinner!

Posted on 10/17/2013 at 12:08 AM in Hudson Valley, Luxe Lodgings, Travel Inspirations | Permalink | Comments (0)

09/17/2013

#425 Post Baby Chic – Week 3 – Rustic Wedding Style

I must admit, it’s much tougher to do a postpartum series than it was to do a maternity-style series. Why? Well, for one thing, you are no longer in control of your schedule (like, at all, though I was able to capture the tail-end of Week 1, and a snapshot of Week 2)…

Welcome to parenthood!

That said, this weekend hubby and I did manage to trek upstate for a wedding in Saratoga Springs (more on this later, in the meantime see here on my recent wedding musings).

For the occasion, I opted for a silk, Moroccan themed Zara dress purchased during my last business trip to Switzerland, and paired it with one of the Helmut Lang jackets procured during my pregnancy (I like to think of these as staple transition pieces!). My Earthies Syriana, another pregnancy favorite, proved to be an incredibly savvy shoe choice given the venue – far better than the stilettos that hubby had talked me out of wearing.

For the ceremony, I had the pleasure of walking the bride and groom’s precious baby (aka Doc the Dobberman Pinscher) down the aisle. It was a particularly heartwarming experience, and reminded me of my own Doberman, my beloved Kaiser (who sadly passed away more than a decade ago), during those carefree high school years.

Me and Doc, walking down the aisle.

Finally got a haircut at Tommy Guns when munchkin turned two weeks! #verynecessary

Hubby pulling extra baby duty :)

After the cerenomy, this mamma’s ready to get down!

Posted on 09/17/2013 at 10:19 AM in Hudson Valley, Postpartum Style | Permalink | Comments (3)

08/05/2012

#128 Bright Horizons

Shirt: Brandy Melville | Skirt: Vintage from eBay | Hat: Joe Fresh (last featured here) | Sandals: Banana Republic | Bracelets: Urban Outfitters & Ralph Lauren

On our way back from lunch today, we popped by the Daisy Hill Farm Stand, which was a lovely bucolic spot in Mount Kisco, close to Bedford upstate (where we were staying for the weekend). Really, how can you not adore a place that has its own bunnies, horses, and chickens?

We lazed around on the beautiful rolling grass, sipping on some delicious homemade lemonade to keep cool. I wore my favorite “pastoral” skirt. Note, I don’t actually own many things of this ilk, but I had bought this off of eBay back in 2005, and had fallen instantly in love. The truth is, I don’t have an opportunity to bust this baby out very often, certainly not for my day-to-day. However, from the moment I saw this skirt, I had envisioned wearing it to somewhere like this. That’s the thing about certainl items of clothing… they make you dream big and help expand your horizons!

Plenty of lemons for squeezing!

Aren't they just the cutest, I wanted to take one home...

Rustic Chic

Love the smell of fresh produce!

Bucolic beauty

The mare stare-down

Posted on 08/05/2012 at 08:23 PM in Hudson Valley, Travel Inspirations | Permalink | Comments (0)

08/04/2012

#127 A Superb Respite at the Bedford Post Inn

Dress: Helmut Lang | Flats: Lucky Brand | Bracelets: Urban Outfitters | Bracele (gold ringlets): Ralph Lauren

As a little getaway/couples retreat, I decided to head upstate again, this time to the east of the Hudson Valley, in a little town called Bedford. I first stumbled upon this place when planning a birthday dinner for hubby, where we went to Tarrytown and sampled some delicious eats at the Blue Hill at Stone Barns. Needless to say, I was looking for nearby fanfare and stumbled upon this little inn, run by who else but Richard Gere (thank you Opentable!). Back in February, hubby and I came here for dinner only. However, that evening, we were taken on a small but delightful tour of the inn, and I must admit, I was intrigued then and there. Fast-forward six months later, and we find ourselves popping over for the weekend. Why not? After all, isn’t summer in the city all about weekend getaways?

I must admit, the spirit of the inn is understated and somewhat reticent. Upon entering I was a bit let down, thinking, “Is that all there is?” However, as I allowed myself to slow down and chase out the Manhattanite in me, I began to sync in with the pace of Bedford a bit better.

Relaxing pool-side with a book and a glass of chardonnay, I was delighted to see the helpful and friendly staff greet me with some finger foods, while lighting up a crackling fire behind me (my own fire!). As I sank further into the zen and rustic authenticity of the place, I began to realize what truly makes the Bedford Post inn so special and soothing. Next on the agenda: a little yoga and some nice suds in the soaked-tub! The amenities are top-notch (heated floors and everything Frette!), but really, the best part about this trip is the ability to spend some quiet time with hubby & enjoy a respite from normal life!