And we’re back like we never left, baby! For those who aren’t aware (or are new here), my partner and I launched a sapphic queer cocktail bar concept earlier this year, called grotto. We’ve been operating a 4x per week pop up in collaboration with Soho House in Manhattan’s Lower East Side, which has been a dream and was fortunately given an extension at the end of February, now ending in mid-April. Learn more here if you are interested. Starting a business together and providing a space for queer women to connect has been incredible, but also incredibly time consuming.
Needless to say, grotto has been taking up all of my brain space, but with spring at our doorstep I think it’s finally time to revive gleamed. With that said, I’m excited to pick back up where we left off, sharing some of my favorite things, places, and activities with you weekly.
xx,
Austa
I’m feeling…spring cleaning
Cleaning for spring, groundbreaking. It’s nothing new to clean sweep your life once the weather defrosts, but I’ve honestly been so inspired lately to do away with the old and invite in the fresh and new.
Honestly, it has always felt strange to me that the technical “new year” is in January, when we’re all cold and bloated from the holidays, wanting to cuddle and bundle up. The start of spring feels like a true new year, and I’m slowly trying to integrate healthier habits in a way that will hopefully make them stick, rather than approaching goals as fleeting “resolutions.”
Some mindset shifts that have been helping me, and might hopefully help you too:
Doing the same thing at the gym every time. Rather than setting unrealistic goals for myself to create gym routines, which tend to feel so daunting, I’m going to the gym with low expectations that include walking the treadmill at 3-3.5 mph at a 15 incline for 30 minutes, and then stretching and doing the classic Alexis Ren 10 minute abs. Once I feel more confident and the habit has set in, I’ll slowly begin switching it up.
Swapping my ugly cleaning products for ones that I want to keep out on the counter. This tip also pairs perfectly with the Shaker design I mention in our petite story below, but just like most things, upgrading the aesthetic (and quality) of the products you use all the time can make a huge difference when it comes to how you feel about the tasks you have to perform. I’ve swapped my Tide laundry detergent for something that looks, smells and feels better—the new laundry collection by women-owned company L’AVANT Collective. I invested in a steam cleaner that has changed my life (I use it to clean my floors, my bathtub and tiles, and steam clothes). Aesthetic items like this tiny dustpan and fruit ‘n’ veg scrub brush actually make me want to clean.
Getting rid of clothing that I haven’t worn in over a year, even if it would be perfect for a specifically themed, hypothetical costume party. IYKYK. But, rather than just bringing it all to the Goodwill (which you should do eventually), try setting up a clothing swap with friends first, which makes flushing out your closet feel more fun.
A petite story…BDDW
A while ago, I wrote a piece for Apartment Therapy on the return of Shaker style design and furniture, which relies on minimalist principles and quality woodworking. Another tenet of Shaker design includes peg rails for holding everything from aesthetically pleasing cleaning tools to pots, mugs, and even chairs. Yes, their signature rail-back chairs are built to be able to hang on the wall when the floor needs cleaning, keeping them up and out of the way. It also looks cool.
While Shaker design is technically rooted in strict religious ideologies of avoiding excess, I’m excited at the prospect of funk-ifying it for the future—marrying the use of vintage or handmade quality pieces with statement-making art and decor that still allows for minimalism. A sort of maximal minimalism. Some places are already beginning to pick up on the Shaker-inspired trend—from CDMX hotel, Circulo Mexicano to NYC restaurant, The Commerce Inn.
One of my favorite design studios, whose flagship showroom is located in Soho, is Shaker design’s perfect complement, BDDW. All BDDW pieces are designed by Tyler Hays and created in his Pennsylvania studio, combining classic American craftsmanship with unique hand painted elements and unexpected shapes or additions. Their pieces kind of remind me of how you might see a regular piece of furniture in a dream: off, but in a good way. Think: a sling chair with an attached side table, a wardrobe made from leather, a chinoiserie-inspired sink.
A must in NYC…Pop Up Grocer
The perfect spring Saturday afternoon in New York: heading to the greenmarket in Union Square to leisurely shop for fresh, beautiful produce. Also, don’t sleep on the pop up plant shops there. They have really good stuff for reasonable prices.
After you’ve filled your tote with a colorful bounty, stroll down to Pop Up Grocer on Bleecker (about a 15 minute walk), the newly permanent location of the super popular roving concept by the fabulous Emily Schildt. Make sure to bring an extra market tote to fill up with everything from Fly By Jing chili crisp and pretty tins of Fishwife tinned salmon to Magic Spoon cereal and bottles of Ghia.
If the weather is right, take your time on the way there to walk through Washington Square Park with a coffee, soaking in the bustling moments happening around you. If your chosen groceries aren’t perishable, there’s always Dante or Bar Pisellino nearby to pop over to for a little afternoon aperitivo afterwards.