Things we are into right now... NYC + Renegade Edition

BETH

Brooklyn
Since the Renegade Craft Fair was at McCarren Park in Brooklyn we decided to stay right in Williamsburg and really enjoy Brooklyn to the fullest. Whenever we go to the city we stay somewhere in Manhattan and this was surprisingly far more enjoyable. We were a VERY quick subway ride (less than 15 mins) away from the East Village and SoHo, it was significantly cheaper getting a hotel room, there are tons of great restaurants and shopping and it is just so much more relaxed. We didn't get to enjoy and explore Brooklyn as much as we would have liked since we were working all day Saturday and Sunday but the overall vibe of the people and the neighborhoods were so chill and we can't wait to go back. The Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn was a great time, super well organized and a lot of amazing talented artists from all over. We can't wait for next year - until then check out all the other Renegade Craft Fairs held all over the country.



Talking Squid
A fellow vendor at Renegade Brooklyn, that has been stylishly recycling t-shirts since 2006. Their products are beautifully well made and all are made from 100% recycled t-shirts. Super modern, trendy, clean and simple and do not look "recycled". I purchased one of the fringe necklaces in a green palette (as pictured above) and I love it. Can't wait to buy more of the necklaces and I really want one of the clutches. Check out all the other great handmade goodies from Talking Squid, including headbands, rugs, totes, handbags and more here.



BabyCakes
In a city with no shortage of bakeries and cupcake shops, this one shines above all the rest. BabyCakes offers all-natural, organic and delicious alternatives free from the common allergens: wheat, gluten, dairy, casein and eggs. They also use agave nectar to sweeten their products instead of refined white sugar or toxic chemical sweeteners. Whether or not you are vegan, gluten intolerant, dairy intolerant, etc., these are the best cupcakes you will ever eat. We stopped by at the end of the night one night while in the city after eating in Little Italy, and I grabbed a couple cupcakes to-go since I was so full from dinner. Once I finally sat down and ate one, it was like a party in my mouth, since I have all but given up on really enjoying baked goods anymore. Check out BabyCakes new cookbook that just released last month, featuring a variety of vegan, gluten free and (mostly) sugar-free recipes from the bakery. Coming soon BabyCakes LA.



Holly Hue
This is a special review since Holly Hue is actually a Buffalo-based business that was a fellow vendor at Renegade this weekend as well. I have purchased 3 or 4 of Holly Hue's items in the past, but ran into her work again at the craft fair this weekend. I popped in her booth and fell in love with this new dress, but was far too tired to think about sizes and colors, so I am looking forward to contacting her, trying some on and hopefully getting one. Holly Hue's creations are made from 90% recycled materials and each item is a one-of-a-kind. She searches the aisles of thrift stores, gets items from friends and repurposes them, creating non-conventional hoodies, dresses, and other accessories. Each item is a truly unique piece that no one else will have.



Kidrobot HQ
We had a meeting with our pals over at the Kidrobot main offices while in the city, and I wish I could have taken tons of photos of the offices and all the super rad toys throughout their space for you to see. But alas, I have some level of class and wouldn't be "that person", but boy did I want to. After meeting and chatting about all kinds of good shit and seeing some of the new stuff that will be coming out in the upcoming months, etc, we got a gift from our pal Shannon and it is so fabulous. We were given the cyan flocked Smokin' Joe Dzhugashvili Stalin Bust by Frank Kozik, only 50 were ever made and wow is that gonna look great in our collection. We didn't have time to hit the Kidrobot store in SoHo this trip, but after being in their head offices, I'm not sure it could compare.



Risotteria
Yeh, so what, I am a fatty and 1/3 of this post is food related, but I'd be lying if I didn't admit that part of the fun of NYC is all the great food, it really is a foodie's heaven. Risotteria is a super yummy Italian restaurant located in the West Village on Bleeker Street, and they are also one of the best known gluten free restaurants in America. The last time I was in the city I went there and it was one of the best meals I have ever had. They serve gluten free Italian food including pizza, breadsticks, panini, risotto and even a variety of gluten free beers and baked goods.

Have no fear about dragging a friend (or in my case my husband) to an "allergen free restaurant", they offer quite a few non-gluten free items as well and all gluten-free items are clearly listed with a "g" next to them, and to be perfectly honest their gluten free items are so good most people wouldn't know they were if they didn't look at the menu. Mark got a gluten free pizza (what a great husband) and I got a gluten free panini so we could split and try both, both were super delicious and Mark even commented that you couldn't tell they were gluten free and he enjoyed both very much (not to mention he ate a TON of the GF breadsticks).

This restaurant by far has the most gluten free choices out of any restaurant I have EVER been to and you can even buy frozen items to take home or dry mixes for the bakes goods, I grabbed a bag of the gluten free pizza crust / breadstick dry mix to make at home.