Hi friends! Here is a little round-up of some of my favorite places in NYC if you find yourself taking a weekend adventure here!  This list includes all of my favorite things to do in Manhattan.  If you're also visiting Brooklyn, here's a little post about Brooklyn, too! 

Whitney Museum photo from my Instagram @artbymegan.  

The Best NYC Art Galleries:  

The must-see galleries in Manhattan for me are the Whitney, the MoMA and the MET.  They are all amazing for entirely different reasons, so pick whichever is closest to your other destinations and go wild! 

MoMA- for an amazing selection of Modern Art plus a super cute cafe and awesome kids' area.  My favorite part at MoMA is the outdoor area, which is so lovely for a little rest during a trip to the city.  

THE MET - for the quintessential NYC experience, go to the MET.  It's stunningly beautiful, but HUGE.  Take a section and enjoy it, instead of trying to see it all in one day.  My favorite wing is the Egyptian wing, where the reflection of the windows on the indoor pool are amazing.  Also, you can spot Jackie O's old Apartment from the window; this wing was designed by her architect that way on purpose!  Also, the MET rooftop in summer is perfection. 

The Whitney - My favorite museum experience in Manhattan is the Whitney.  It's in a hip, fun area called the Meatpacking District, right near Chelsea Market and some AMAZING restaurants, so it's a great afternoon during a weekend visit. Also, the architecture of the building itself is art.  It has terraces on each level, allowing you to go inside and back outside during your weaving through the galleries.  Also, they have my ALL TIME FAVORITE DeKooning Painting.  

@jgoldcrown mural / #lovewall

Best NYC Restaurants: 

Ok, picking your top restaurants in NYC is nearly impossible, but here are my top 10.  Here's another great list if you need more ideas!  Also, here and here. 

1. Fuku + (Midtown) - the most delicious Korean chicken on the planet
2. Burger Joint in Le Parker Meridien  (Midtown) - the coolest hipster (hidden) burger joint
3. Café Medi (Lower East Side) - my favorite restaurant of all time?
4. Eataly (Flatiron) - sit on the roof for amazing views and delicious food
5. The Smith (Multiple Locations) - I like the East Village location, but they are all delicious!  
6. Tiny's. Literally the cutest little pink restaurant ever.  Be sure to visit the Balloon Saloon next door, too.  It's a hilarious little balloon and gift shop.  
7. Chelsea Market (Meatpacking) - try Los Tacos No. 1.  Trust me! 
8. Jack's Wife Freda (Soho and West Village) - Brunch of the Gods.
9. Big Gay Ice Cream (East Village, West Village and Meatpacking) - no explanation needed.
10. Joe's Pizza (Greenwich Village).  Walk up and eat it at the window.  It's the NYC way. 
11. Cafe Habana. (Soho).  I legit can't stop thinking of the food here.  Get the corn.

Best NYC Parks and Adventures: 

Central Park is totally worth it.  It is a touristy spot, but it's magical.  Be sure to see the Sailboats Pond, Bethesda Fountain and wander around to see the amazing views of the skyline.

The High Line, over in Chelsea is an old railroad converted into an above ground park.  It's so breathtaking and has amazing views.  Be sure to walk all the way down to the Whitney Museum where it ends at the southern point.  

Bryant Park is one of my favorite parks in the entire city.  I love how it's a manageable size, has a grassy area, a carousel, cafes, walking areas, and board games all in one park.  It's worth taking some time to explore and you might just end up staying for hours!  

Battery Park is beautiful is spans all along the Hudson River with amazing views of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and some amazing little spots along the water for resting, playgrounds, and cafes.  It's a really clean, gorgeous area and if you're up for it, take the Staten Island Ferry, too! 

Walk around Soho.  Be sure to check out the amazing shopping, cafes, and do some seriously fun people watching.  

Top of the Rock. Go to the top of Rockefeller Center for a beautiful panoramic view of the city and Empire State Building.  It's one of my favorite places in the city.  

Walk over the Brooklyn Bridge from Chinatown to Brooklyn.  It's one of my favorite things to do in NYC.  The skyline views and beautiful history and architecture of the Brooklyn Bridge is just amazing.  

Best NYC Bookstores: 

Rand McNally.  Bonus points for cutest cafe, too!  Also, an awesome kids' selection downstairs. 

The Strand. The HUGEST bookstore with literally any title you can imagine!  No trip to NYC is complete without checking it out.  

Further reading: 

• Untapped Cities
• Taza's NYC City Guides
• Timeout NYC
• Fodors NYC Guide
• Rick Steve's Weekend NYC Guide
• Anthony Bourdain

My favorite NYC instagrammers: 

• @andreannu

• @heydavina

• @whyilovenewyorkcity

• @timeoutnewyork

• @householdmag

Apps by for entrepreneurs and small business owners: 

As a mom, small business owner, volunteer leader of a group of growing creatives (TuesdaysTogether NYC) and contractor for an amazing start-up in San Francisco, streamlining, efficiency, and organization are really vital aspects of running a relatively stress-free life.  I have discovered a few apps and programs along the way that have completely saved me and I wanted to share them with you today! 

Note: I am not being paid to share any of this information with you.  I just like to share what I have tested hopefully help out another busy or stressed out small-business owner.  

photo by Laura and Rachel Hernandez from the Rising Tide Society Leaders' Retreat in January 2017 at Honeybook's HQ in San Francisco, CA.  

For social media organization: Planoly

Planoly has completely changed the way I see and use my social media.  I have become more cohesive in my messaging to my followers, my feed is more organized, and I can think clearly about what my weekly work will look like in advance, which is so helpful as a mom.  They are a lovely company and their customer service is LEGIT.  Go check them out.  

For business workflow: Honeybook

As a contractor for Honeybook, I am continuously amazed at the high quality of service that this workflow tool for creatives offers to their incredible and growing community.  When I began using Honeybook, it seemed too good to be true to have invoicing, contracts, billing, taxes and financial tools all integrated into one software that was attractive, customizable and easy to use.  And when I say user-friendly, I mean it.  It's intuitive and so streamlined and simplified.  I love it! 

For my website: Squarespace

I can honestly tell you that what I love most about my website is removing the guess-work in building my site.  I have such a limited time as a one-woman-business-owner and I want to be able to capitalize on my work as an artist when I can.  So, using the clean, well-designed templates that Squarespace has to offer has saved me time, frustration, and has given me the freedom to focus on other parts of my business as it grows.  

For finances and taxes: Quickbooks

I have learned so much about finances and managing money from running my business and it's all thanks to Stephanie at Steadfast Bookkeeping and Quickbooks.  I was originally very hesitant to master the money management aspect of my business, but I am thankful for this intuitive and user-friendly tool that syncs with my Workflow Tool to simplify my finances and help me to budget for future years of Art by Megan.  

For time management and scheduling: Calendly 

I have recently implemented using calendar appointments into my business in order to streamline my Admin days and allow for complete days of creativity in my studio.  If I can schedule 5-10 calls on a Monday, I know that the rest of the week I can remove the distraction of admin tasks and to-do lists and create, paint and experiment.  Freeing up my mental space for creative moments has been a HUGE lifesaver, and I am thankful for the email integration that Calendly offers.  

Let me know in the comments below what tools you use to help streamline your life and business! I am always on the hunt for something to give me more free-time with my loved ones or to paint, paint, paint.  Really, I just want a clone of myself so that I can paint all-day and she can run the business.  Is there an app for that?  

xoxo 

M

Let's be Pinterest friends, shall we?  Something that I love about both Instagram and Pinterest, is the ability to look at images that inspire me.  I love scrolling through the topics that I love like painting, art, interior design, architecture, travel, and street art to see what's new and fun.  Also, I am obsessed with finding the perfect sunsets and oceans for inspiration, so I am always on the look out for something gorgeous to start the painting obsession!  

Let's be Pinterest Friends, ok? 

Check out a few of my favorite boards below and let's get "pinning".  

Ideas for how to take a trip to Paris and see “it all” with a kid.

Recently we returned from a family trip to Paris.  It was an amazing experience and it was made even more special because it was our first chance to show our little one how awesome Europe is!  I wanted to share a couple of kid-friendly ideas, hints and tricks that made our time more enjoyable.  Paris, we are totally, head-over-heels in love with you and cannot wait to return someday.  

Idea: Get the Paris Lib Pass.  It is totally worth it if you expect to see at least 3-5 of the major sights and their website is super easy to navigate.

Seeing the Eiffel Tower in Spring = Heaven! 

Day 1:

Go on the Eiffel Tower Tour.  (Yes, it's totally a necessary evil, but totally worth the NYC style pandemonium and waiting.)  Reserve your tickets online and schedule ahead to help with the lines and only go to the 2nd level if you are a little (or “OMG MAMA, WE ARE WAYYYYYY TOO HIGH UP IN THE AIR) afraid of heights. Also, do this activity first so that you don't spend the whole week with a little person asking "When do we get to go to the Eiffel Tower.....".  

Then after the Eiffel Tower, hop on the Double Decker Bus tour (comes with your Paris Lib Pass) and enjoy some sightseeing that is super fun for a little one.  Riding on the top of the bus allows the little ones to see much more without having to walk too much.  Being a tourist in Paris is a truly a marathon, not a sprint, my friends.

Hop off the Double Decker Bus tour to see Sacré Coeur.  It was awesome.  The little street that leads up to the church is hilariously funny and reminded us a little bit of Canal Street in NYC.  We climbed the stairs halfway, stopped and listened to the cutest old man quartet play some Parisian jazz and checked out the view.  Note: the stairs themselves are the coolest part of this experience for a kid.  Why do they love hopping up and down them so much?  It was a great way to enjoy a sunny afternoon with amazing views of the Paris skyline.  

Views from Sacré Coeur 

A crazy but amazingly delicious and memorable dinner if you are in the Place Vendome area is Le Soufflé.  Soufflé for everyone for every part of the meal.  It may seem decadent, but we were in Paris, after all. 

After Le Soufflé, head over to the Ferris Wheel in Jardin des Tuileries.  The view is amazing and it’s such a fun late night activity for a kid.  We loved seeing the city from above and having a little "pod" in the Ferris Wheel all to ourselves.  It was only “a tiny bit scary” to be up that high, according to the little lady.

Day 2:

Do less. 

One thing we noticed while traveling was that we didn’t have a concrete itinerary for each day and it made the trip SO MUCH more fun.  We slept in, we ate 3 hour long lunches and played games and drew pictures at the table.  We ate bread and cheese until our bellies were so full we thought we would never eat again and then walked down the street and ate ice cream.  That’s vacation done right, we say.

If you need more advice on how to enjoy Paris without overdoing it, we loved Abby Grace’s post here.

So, after a lazy morning and midday, what does one decide to do?  Visit the Louvre.  Ok, here’s the deal.  The Louvre is BIG.  Like too big for a kid to enjoy, but you can totally outsmart it two ways: 

1.     Because you have your museum pass so you are super chill about walking in and out quickly because it was already “paid for”.

2.     Just walk around Egyptian, see the old castle walls of the original building and then pick 2 more things to see.  Take the elevators and get a map and pretend to be on a treasure hunt.  People always see my photos and think that my little one totally loves museums but let’s be real here people, they can only handle so much.  So, make a tiny little plan, bribe them with croissants and then promise them that if they let you find the Mona Lisa you will take them to the playground later.  #parenting

After the Louvre, play in Tuileries Gardens.  Wander, take silly photos and smell the flowers.

Dinner idea: Chez Monsieur in the Place Vendome area was great.  DELICIOUS food, (we had the veal stew and the profiteroles), the service was amazing and so friendly, and they were completely ok with having a happy little tiny woman in the restaurant.  We noticed that as long as she wasn’t roaming freely and shouting, Parisians were totally down with our little woman joining them for fancy meals.

Day 3:

Play in Gardens once more and then hit up the Musee l’Orangerie.  AKA MY FAVORITE MUSEUM EVERRRRRR.  Omg it’s so good.  I almost cried.  Ok fine, I cried.   As a little girl, I was totally enamored with the work of Monet and read “Linnea in Monet’s Garden” all of the time so seeing this was literally a dream come true for me. 

Then switch to Airbnb.  (link to our AWESOME apartment here)

We decided to stay in two totally distinct areas in Paris to really try and soak up the “tourist” area and the smaller cobblestone street vibes of Le Marais.  I would recommend doing this for anyone who wants to really see the area and feel a bit more like you are living there instead of just visiting.  PS – Le Marais is 100% kid friendly. 

Eat crepes at Le Breizh in the afternoon.  Wait in the line if you must, it’s worth it.  Also, some people hit up the Picasso museum afterwards but we were being ultra lazy and just played in the playground and then wandered around instead.  Both are solid options. 

The best part of the Airbnb experience was that we arrived, got some groceries (bread, cheese, wine, salami, etc.) and stayed in and snuggled and watched movies.  It was a perfect part of the trip to take it easy and it made the day so much more low key.  Also, we washed our clothes in the tiniest washer ever and it was awesome.  *and hilarious*

Day 4:

Go to Ile de la Cite.  See Notre Dame (climbing is cool, I guess, but I personally think it’s overrated…don’t tell my family I wrote that.)

See more about traveling in Paris from a person who is even grumpier than me (Anthony Bourdain)

Notre Dame is gorgeous from the outside, has a sick playground and benches, and the views alone are breathtaking.  Also, the gardens. 

Go to Shakespeare and Co.  TRUST ME.  It was awesome, complete with a beautiful antique bookstore, modern bookstore, café and more.  We wandered the aisles and shipped for hours.  Also, there are ladders for climbing to get books and if your kid is into Beauty and the Beast that is literally their dream come true. 

Take a boat ride on the Seine (it’s part of your Paris Lib Pass, but we mixed up where to get picked up so just bought tickets…it was still worth it!) 

Dinner idea: Literally any sidewalk cafe in Le Marais.  We tried out Camille (thanks to a recommendation from my friend Lauren), and it was yummy traditional food and service and totally chill vibe.  Nice for a kid because they make pesto pasta which is literally her life.  The grownups ate escargot and totally grossed out the kid.  It was a good, giggly time had by all.

Day 5:

Try a café for breakfast.  Literally any of them in Le Marais are delicious.  Order a “menu” which consists of orange juice, coffee and a croissant.  Eat outside if you can, it’s so fun to people watch and enjoy the morning feeling like a local.  

Get a picnic at Eric Keyser and head to Versailles for a day of adventure!

Note: The RER (Paris Subway) map towards Versailles is a little cray.  Head towards Versailles and make sure 100% that you are actually going to Versailles.  Or just embrace the fact that you might get lost and make some cute old lady friends in the process.  Whatever floats your boat.

At Versailles, go QUICKLY thru the inside because it’s abysmally boring for kids.  Then play, play, play all day outside and frolic and picnic.  The best thing we did at Versailles was rent bikes.  A bicycle and a bicycle-built-for-two, to be exact.  It was so fun to pedal around the gardens and stop to see fun things like Marie Antionette’s pink castle, beautiful landscaped gardens and race one another through historical ruins. 

Dinner idea: Le Petit Chatelet next to Shakespeare and Co.  We decided to head back over to Ile de la Cite after Versailles and it’s so fun to see Pont Neuf’s street performers and musicians and Notre Dame at night.  Note: aforementioned "super awesome" playground.  Le Petit Chatelet is an experience!  We sat next to the fireplace where they prepared the meats and the waiter was a riot.  We know 0% French and muddled through in a hilarious fashion.  He was completely down for the adventure and we appreciated how funny he was about it all. 

Day 6:

Off to Marche des les Enfants Rouges.  Oldest street market in Paris and full of delicious and beautiful international food options.  We enjoyed some wine, lentil soup, and a charcuterie board and then indulged in some Moroccan sweets for dessert.  Also, there are flower markets and we wandered through a bit and literally smelled the roses until the flower man legit shoo-ed us away.

Please pass all of the cheese my way.  

Then, off to Luxembourg Gardens!  SO, beautiful and awesome for kids!  Rent a sailboat and enjoy a seat next to the pond. The playground situation is amazing here, but bring cash because you have to pay to play.  Also, there is a marionette show on Wednesdays and Sundays.  We spent the whole day just relaxing in the Gardens and wandering around. 

Day 7:

Headed home but not without eating more chocolate croissants and stopping for a proper breakfast send off at Frenchie Jr. on Rue du Nil in Le Marais.  It was absolutely delicious and the entire street had little gems along it.  Isn’t it just cruel when you find little treasures on the day you are leaving?

Then we got some baguettes from Eric Keyser to take on the airplane and headed to Dublin.

Paris Highlights:

• Crepes at Le Breizh in Le Marias
• Bike Ride in Versailles
• Seeing the Waterlilies at Musée l'Orangerie in Tuileries Gardens
• Dinners at Le Souffle and Chez Monsieur
• Picnic in the Park at Versailles
• Riding the Ferris Wheel in Tuileries Gardens
• Macarons at Laudureé
• Musicians on Pont Neuf
• Sacré Coeur Musicians
• Espresso breaks midday
• Croissants all day every day 

Parenting highlights:

• Watching your kid soak up a totally new culture
• Watching them make friends at the park despite language barriers
• Teaching her to people watch and sit at a café for hours. 
• Teaching her to draw or play something silly when they get “bored” while mom and dad drink wine
• Watching her eyes light up when the Eiffel Tower “twinkled” each night on the hour for 5 minutes
• Hearing her happy squeals as she rode on the bicycle with her best friend, Dad.  

Part 2: The Ocean + why I can’t stop painting it…

photo by Laura Lee Creative

• “Megan, why do you paint the ocean?”
• “Mama, you should try to paint something else like a dog or a bird.”
• “Megan, what’s your deal with the ocean?”

I can’t really answer this question, but I will try to put this crazy obsession into words.

I think I paint the ocean because I am drawn to things and attracted to learning about things that:

1.    Scare me + I cannot understand.

2.    Are beautiful + powerful. 

• Enter randomly selected Spanish major in college. 
• Enter dating and marrying my best friend even though it scared the crap out of me. 
• Enter living in Spain and getting a MA I wasn’t qualified for but fighting hard for it.
• Enter love of travel and new adventures. 
• Enter not minding getting lost. 
• Enter love of oceans?  I think so. 

I love being adjacent to something that scares me a little and that I cannot understand or comprehend. 

Now, a little story…

When I was 12, I went to the beach with my best friends in 8th grade.  We were there for a weekend or something and it was great fun.  I even had a new two-piece bathing suit that I would be debuting and it felt so adult and daring of me.  Well, as we swam out to sea, we noticed that the waves were extra strong.  Like, “weird-strong”, as my 8th grade (or probably current) self would have described them.  So, like the responsible and thoughtful ladies that we were, we kept swimming out further and further.  Suddenly a wave crashed and I lost them.  And then another wave crashed before I could catch my breath.  And another and another.  And another. Then, I couldn’t breathe and I started flailing my luckily long and gangly arms around yelling for help from the rip tide that was swallowing me up.  And a handsome young, perfectly tan (as the story always goes) lifeguard had to save me and literally drag me to shore.  I lay there with my eyes closed utterly embarrassed and very grateful that I hadn’t drowned.   But also in complete awe. 

That was a day where I learned the power of the ocean.  I was scared and in love *with the ocean*, not the lifeguard.  Come on!

And, to be honest, I love that feeling.  I love to be a little bit in awe.  Not always at the time (like whilst drowning and flailing and screaming), certainly, but the rush of adrenaline afterwards is amazing and kind of addictive to me. 

I love how beautiful and powerful the ocean is. 

One more little story…

In college, I studied abroad in Spain. (I know, I don’t talk about it enough, ha-ha.)  The ocean and beaches there are ridiculously blue, colorful, powerful, amazing, and gorgeous.  One weekend, we decided to road-trip down to a town called Cadiz for Carnaval (Spain’s Mardi Gras).   It was insane.  It was one of those moments that you look back on and think, “Man, whose life was that?” 

But, one of my favorite memories from that weekend was when our group was hanging out on the beach during a really windy day and the ridiculous boys decided to run into the ocean.  It was a chilly, wet 50 degrees out and the ocean was like ice.  But, I wasn’t going to let them get all of the credit.  I was going to go in too.  (Note: I HATE cold water and being cold in general, but I also have a fierce competitive streak and an even fiercer feminist streak.)  

So, there we were, running into the Atlantic Ocean in February in our *bathing suits* (I was, I promise!) and I have never felt more alive.  Yes, of course I was freezing my ass off, but it was such a beautiful and powerful feeling to be a woman swimming out further than the boys and doing what they could do without any fear or concern.  (Note: I went home and took a bath and drank some red wine and it was all-ok.) 

I felt beautiful and powerful thanks to the ocean.

• I loved that feeling of being BOTH that day. 
• I liked that a combination I had always convinced myself was an impossible contrast wasn’t. 
• I didn’t want to be beautiful OR successful someday.  
• I didn’t want to be pretty OR limitless. 
• I didn’t want to be in love OR free. 

I wanted to be both. 

That day at the ocean was a little awakening just like the day I almost drowned. 

I love that combination…beautiful AND powerful.  I like how it relates to being a woman.  I like how it makes me feel like that is a possible combination.  I like how scary it is.

So, I think that’s why I paint the ocean.  But, check back with me in like 3 years and my answers may be completely different. 

“One does not discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time.”

— André Gide

STUDIO SERIES: A new little blog feature offering a sneak peek into the wacky, colorful, nutty, and funny world of "Art by Megan".

photos above: left (my parents), right (Amy Frances Photo).

Part 1: Why I paint + a tiny biography + the time I colored the walls pink

A question that comes up a lot when I meet new people or talk to other creative is “When did you start painting?”.   I can honestly answer, never.  I never “started” painting.  It wasn’t a decision that I made one day to become artistic or creative, just like I can imagine that people who are really good at dancing (not me) or math (also not me) never consciously made a decision to start.  It was always just there.

I have mentioned in previous blog posts that my husband affectionately refers to me as “the exchange student”.  Meaning, that while most 80s/90s kids have memories of movies like “The Goonies” and “Babysitters Club”, I have vivid memories of Crayola’s new color collection release dates (anyone remember when Robins egg blue launched?  I do!) and worrying about it my built in crayon box sharpener was clogged again.  My family would watch “The Cosby Show” and I would color and sing to myself.  My brother and his friends would play pirate games and I would draw our treasure maps in crazy detail.  I would read (for fun) the atlas because I loved the shapes of maps and the colors blue and green.  Then I would draw real countries and fake countries and weird symbols and stuff that I dreamed up and hang them on my closet door. 

10 other weird things I used to do as a kid:

1. I used to collect rocks and color them cool colors and then place them around my house and garden.
2. I made maps of my neighborhood like everyday for a while.  It was intense.
3. I obsessively cut out pieces of paper from the Washington post, magazines, and other books when my parents weren’t looking.
4. I wore a lot of tie-dye from the year 1986-1996.
5. I enjoyed sitting on our deck and “painting it” with a bucket of water on a hot sunny day.
6. I loved the smell of a fresh pack of construction paper.
7. I ate some of the pasta from the summer camp class on making necklaces because it just seemed like such a cool idea.
8. I would draw little pictures on the walls with pencils and then act like I had no idea how they got there.  Cave paintings, maybe?  Magic?  I had no idea.
9. I loved ironing leaves between wax paper and probably ruined the iron doing it approximately 8 times.
10. I organized by Crayola box by ombre effect and got really annoyed at friends or my brother if they weren’t placed back into their designated spot. 

Now, a little story…

My uniform socks were red one year and I was so excited about the bright new color that I celebrated by laying in my bed with my crayons and notebook and put my feet on the wall. Well, much to my amazement the dye from the socks was actually like a faint pink marker when rubbed on my bedroom wall vigorously.  So, I lay there and listened to my record player and rubbed the wall dreamily turning it from bright white to “catholic-school-knee-sock” pink.  It was amazing.  My parent’s disagreed.

So, in answer to your question, I never started loving color, shape, making art, doodling, making a mess, or, yes, painting.  It was always there, just wishing and hoping to become a real-life job someday. 

In summary, thank you for supporting Art by Megan.  It’s my little dream come true. 

Sign up for my newsletter here, if you want access to more fun stuff! 

We just recently celebrated our 2-year-anniversary as New Yorkers and I can't fathom how time has passed so quickly but also feel kind of like we have lived here forever.  Our kid officially sounds like a total Brooklyn kid and says the following phrases with confidence, "I'm wahhhhlking here", "Whattyatalkkkinngbout", "Get online (instead of in-line)", "Ma, I'm taking out the Gaahhhhhbage", among other hilarious Brooklyn phrases.  Also, we have a serious laugh developing here.  Just trust me that it's a tiny bit like Fran Drescher on "The Nanny".  

a little subway notebook / sketchbook entry by @artbyipa 

A 2017 interview with my favorite little lady (LL):

(Read last year's interview here.) 

Me: What's your favorite thing about NYC?
LL: The playgrounds, the food, and the museums.  

Me: Where's your favorite place in NYC?
LL: "Gino's (Pizzeria in Bay Ridge)."

Me: What's better, Brooklyn or Manhattan?
LL: "Manhattan because there are lots of parks there.  Brooklyn because there's stores nearby."

Me: What's the best food in NYC?
LL: "The pizza."

Me: What's the coolest part of riding the train?
LL: "That man who plays music on his guitar or any instrument" 

Me: Do you miss Maryland?
LL: "Kind of."

Me: Where should we go next in NYC?
LL: "To all of the parks and the playgrounds and some new museums" 

Me: What's the best part of living here?
LL: "That we can scoot around and can ride bicycles instead of driving in the car. New York City has lots of good museums and lots of questions to answer."

Me: Do you remember the day we moved here?
LL: "Yes. Hard.  We didn't find any of our plates or silverware or forks or anything!"

Me: Who are your best friends in NYC?
LL: "June, Amina, Lukas, Jude, Teddy, Nicholas, Violin Nicholas, Miss Sotiria, Ivo, Nessa, Louise, Vesper, Alessia, Eli, Esteban, Cody, and Adam."

Me: Do you like New York?
LL: "Yes!"

A list of things that will never, ever get old about NYC: 

• When the nice Mariachi guys come on the train and serenade us on our ride home.  
• Ordering any cuisine or wine online and having a nice guy on a bicycle bring it to you like a genie.
• Hearing 25 different languages at the park and wondering what everyone's unique story is. 
• Being asked if I speak English.  Do I look like I am from somewhere else?  I am still confused. 
• The food: OMG. 
• Coffee Shops: The hidden, secret good ones. 
• Family adventures all over the city: Picking a spot on the map (or subway map) and just going! 
• Central Park & Prospect Park.  Every single time we walk through them, we find something new and awesome to explore. 
• Christmas in NYC.
• Springtime in NYC.
• ok, fine, I am completely in love and there's literally no day I hate in NYC.  Except the days where the snow has melted just enough to create ENORMOUS puddles of slush.  Those days are gross.  Oh and the days where we catch mice in the mousetraps and I have to call neighbors and ask them to come rescue me like Rapunzel in her tower. But otherwise, yea, it's amazing here! 

But the biggest lesson learned in 2017 is as long as we are all together, anywhere feels like home!

photo by Chi-Chi Agbim of Two Twenty 

“Home is wherever I’m with you.”

— Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes

I love working with clients to commission an original piece of artwork for their homes based on happy memories, favorite color schemes and fun travel experiences.  Here are a couple of photos of my recent commissioned art pieces from Manhattan, Boston, Florida and Brooklyn!  Enjoy!  M

If you are interested in talking more about commissioning a painting for your home, feel free to reach out to me at megan@artbymegan.com or on the "Commission a Painting" widget on the homepage.  

What do Celia Cruz, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Paula Abdul, Beyonce, Julietta Venegas, and the cast of Pitch Perfect have in common?  They are all active members in the production of Art by Megan paintings.  Lady Jams playlist....here. 

I cannot explain exactly how the magic happens but there is a special shoutout to Spotify + coffee in order.  

photo by Laura Lee Creative

I love teaching and during my transition from full-time High School teacher to full-time artist I missed the teaching part of my life A LOT!  

Recently I have started to teach painting classes ("Abstract Oceans" and "Abstract Petals") at Kristen Coates Gallery in Newport, RI.  I just love watching hesitant adult artists turn into confident beginners in the course of an hour or two, it's so much fun and empowering.  Plus, there is champagne and that always helps too.  

Here are some photos that my awesome friend Kim of Kim Lyn photography took during my most recent trip to Newport for "Abstract Petals".   Kim, these photos are so gorgeous, you are such a talented photographer!  And I have begun to notice that I look like my sweet grandma when I teach + it makes me so happy! 

I would love to host a painting party someday in my future amazing backyard (Brooklyn problems) and am always up for an adventure, so contact me if you know of any fun opportunities! 

Today I am SO EXCITED to share a project with you all that the Brooklyn, Manhattan and Long Island Rising Tide Society chapters have been working on for MONTHS!!  We wrote a FREAKING TRAVEL GUIDE, guys!! #dreamjob

So if you are traveling to NYC sometime soon, consider yourself a creative or at least a fun person, and love a good adventure, we have got you covered!  I will share this in three installments + Brooklyn is up first because I am biased + there's no shame in my game.  

BROOKLYN GUIDE FOR CREATIVES: 

Culture: Inspired places + hidden gems

Greenwood Cemetery: It’s beautiful, and if you climb all the way to the top there are gorgeous views of the city.  There are also a ton of famous people buried there which can help you piece together a lot of the city’s history (Leonard Bernstein, Boss Tweed, Charles Ebbets, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Louis Comfort Tiffany, Horace Greeley to name drop a bit). Heads up, they are real strict on closing hours, but a beer hall opened close by….greenwood park (in the booze section). http://www.green-wood.com

Brooklyn Museum: Large museum featuring 1.5 million unique and diverse collections.  Past ones have included works from Jean-Michel Basquiat and Kahinde Wiley, and the museum is currently featuring a retrospective on boomboxes by Tom Sachs.  The first Saturday of every month is “Target First Saturdays,” where you can see exhibits, dance, and participate in art activities, all for FREE! (Location:  Prospect Heights) www.brooklynmuseum.org IG:  @brooklynmuseum

Brooklyn Heights Promenade: Stroll along the picturesque walkway along Cobble Hill and Historic Brooklyn Height’s Neighborhoods, while enjoying the best view of Manhattan out there!  It’s a great spot for a morning walk, sipping coffee, or just reading a book and soaking up the views.  

Brooklyn Botanic Garden: Brooklyn Botanic Garden is an urban botanic garden that connects people to the world of plants, fostering delight and curiosity while inspiring an appreciation and sense of stewardship of the environment. http://www.bbg.org/ (Park Slope)

Grand Army Plaza: Grand Army Plaza is a public plaza that comprises the northern corner and the main entrance of Prospect Park featuring the “Soldiers’ and Sailors’” Arch. (Park Slope)

Morbid Anatomy Museum: A museum, coffee shop, library and event space. See a variety of exhibits and of things nobody is interested but us, such as medical wax sculptures from the 1800’s, or make take a taxidermy class or watch a silent film on witchcraft through the ages. Great coffee to boot with lots to look at in the cafe if you’re not up for an exhibit. They also host regularly host the famous Morbid Anatomy Flea-market which happens often, but check their website for dates. www.morbidanatomymuseum.org (Gowanus)

Brooklyn Bridge photo by Eileen Meny of Eileen Meny Photography

Food + drink:

Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream: Best Vegan Ice Cream: DELICIOUS  http://www.vanleeuwenicecream.com/ (Boerum Hill + Williamsburg + in Manhattan - East Village and West Village)

Farmacy: old fashioned ice cream parlor with games, delicious treats and a laid back environment.  http://www.brooklynfarmacyandsodafountain.com/ (Carroll Gardens)

Ample Hills Creamery: Best Ice Cream in NYC http://www.amplehills.com/ (Park Slope + Manhattan - Hell’s Kitchen and Chelsea)

Song: Best Thai food (Park Slope)

Four and Twenty Blackbirds, amazing artisanal pies by the slicehttp://www.birdsblack.com/ (Gowanus Brooklyn)

Mac Shack: This little hidden gem has the best mac & cheese in NYC. It’s small and coss. Perfect for take out but nice to sit and eat at their high bar tables. You have to try the lobster mac, the curry shrimp mac . . . and really just all the flavors. http://macshackny.com/ (Clinton Hill)

Dough Donuts: The constant line out the doors of the this small doughnut shop says it all. Hibiscus, Nutella, Coconut, and Dulce De Leche are some of their amazing flavors. The donuts are made in front of you and are huge (but not one judges you if you get two all for yourself). It’s a must visit and don’t worry, the lines move fast! http://www.doughdoughnuts.com/ (Bedstuy)

Dough Donuts by Chi-Chi Agbim of Two Twenty 

Peter Pan Donuts & Pastry Shop, the best donuts in NYC, nay the world (disagree, come at me!). Low key and old school coffee shop vibes and donuts that will mend a broken heart and help you reach enlightenment. http://peterpandonuts.com/ (Greenpoint)
 

Dunwell Donuts, The only place I’ve ever been where vegan baked goods have tasted as good if not better than non-vegan baked goods. Try the PB&J donut if they have it available. Real hip and chill vibes. http://dunwelldoughnuts.com/ (Williamsburg)

Uncle Louie G’s: Their motto is “Italian ices and ice cream so good, they’ll make you feel like a kid again.” They ain’t lyin’. A classic Brooklyn treat. www.unclelouiegee.com (Multiple Locations)

Cafe Pedlar: 210 Court St. Coffee shop serving Stumptown, In Pursuit of Tea, plus sweet and savory baked goods www.cafepedlar.com @cafepedlar (Cobble Hill)

Gino’s, delicious old-school Italian food in authentic, garlicky setting.  http://ginosbayridge.com (Bay Ridge)

Tilda: Excellent food and coffee.  HOWEVER, if you only had to get one thing I would say get the chocolate chip cookie.  It rivals Levain’s, and they also do a chocolate chocolate cookie with bits of olive in it to give it some nice salt-y flavor layering. (Clinton Hill) http://www.tildaallday.com @tildaallday

Fette Sau: Euro style BBQ joint.  Don’t be afraid of the line.  Get a growler of beer from the bar to wet your appetite while waiting for the amazing food.  Very busy once the weather get’s nice.  Best to go with about 4-6 people so you can divide and conquer the food/table/beer line. (Williamsburg) http://www.fettesaubbq.com

Maison Premiere: New Orleans Styled Oyster Bar. Just won the James Beard award for best bar in the city, so I bet it’s going to be pretty packed these days.  However, it’s a gorgeous space with and outdoor patio.  $1 oyster happy hour where you actually get to pick your oysters and not be given a mixed plate of “east coast oysters”. (Williamsburg) http://maisonpremiere.com

Greenwood Park: Indoor/Outdoor Beer Hall (S. Park Slope/Windsor Terrace) http://greenwoodparkbk.com/blog/
 

Slowteria: Delicious, authentic and creative tacos and cocktails in a cool, casual setting with an awesome outdoor patio out back.  Located at the bottom of Carroll Gardens, easily accessed by car and with easy parking too!  Excellent service, kid friendly and delicious!  http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/la-slowteria/

Grimaldi’s Brick Oven Pizza: Best pizza in Brooklyn...maybe... (Dumbo) http://www.grimaldis-pizza.com/home

River Cafe: The restaurant with the best view of the Manhattan skyline. (Dumbo) http://therivercafe.com/

River Cafe by Rachel of CR Creative Studios 

Beehive Oven: In May 2014 BeeHive Oven opened its first restaurant in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY serving comfort food that takes one to a feeling of “home.” BeeHive takes great care to make everything in house. In fact they like to say they make everything but the honey and hot sauce. When you sit down for a meal at BeeHive Oven, you will taste the care that goes into every dish. They source the best ingredients they can find and source them properly. Many of the ingredients are locally sourced, however there are times that the best ingredients come from a little distance away. No matter where the ingredients come from, each bite will tell you that your meal was made with the utmost care. Chef Treva's recipes come from classic training and years of experience from many generations. Each dish, reflects a heritage but is updated to reflect a taste that takes you “home.” The dishes are not artisanal or forced but simple and delicious that cause many guests to tell stories of growing up. It is the best compliment to have a guest say the meal reminds them of someone they love.  (Williamsburg) http://www.beehiveoven.com

Tom’s Restaurant: Classic diner food with a Brooklyn twist, enough wall ephemera to keep you entertained, and homemade, fresh and portions that’ll make you happy. Known for their breakfast/brunch, ordering anything that should be buttered comes will get you a surprise side of homemade butters (cinnamon, strawberry, and mango- I always take home the leftovers). If you arrive and there’s a line wrapping around the building- don’t fret because it not only goes fast, but the delightful staff will come out and serve the line samplings of their menu from turkey bacon, to cookies, to even coffee. (Prospect Heights)

Cafe Mogador: On any night at Café Mogador, expertly braised tagines are served alongside house-made bread fresh from the tandoori oven.  At the core of the menu are Moroccan-Israeli traditions, yet French, Indian and New American flavors also reflect the heritage of the people who have helped create the menu over the years.  Sourcing organic ingredients wherever possible, the restaurant prides itself on quality and consistency. The curved wooden bar offers a wine list boasting some of the best value and vintages in the city and a versatile list of seasonal hand-made cocktails. Friendly staff welcome guests like family, and over thirty years of history permeate the candle lit space. (Lower East Side + Williamsburgh) http://www.cafemogador.com

SEA: Amazing Thai food with a unique and serene ambiance.(Williamsburg) http://seathainyc.com/

Soco: Southern food with a twist is paired with cocktails & DJ sets at this sleek active scene. http://socobk.com/ (Clinton Hill)

Sweet Chick: Gourmet chicken & waffles star at this hip, down-home Southern comfort-food resource with cocktails. (Williamsburg + Lower East Side) http://sweetchicknyc.com/

Habana Outpost: With a year-round To-Go location and a fabulous outdoor area open in Spring/Summer, Habana Outpost’s Brooklyn location promises delicious food, killer margaritas, and a fun time. They screen free outdoor movies on Sundays and frequently host family-friendly events.  http://www.habanaoutpost.com (Fort Greene)

Oasis Falafel: So Mamoun’s in LES is the best, but if you want to keep it in Brooklyn and you love pickled cabbage, Oasis is for you. Killer babaghanouge while you’re at it. (Williamsburg)

DRINKS:

Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club: Pretend you’re visiting the most rockin’ retirement community in Florida as you drink and play shuffleboard. Great for parties or just showing up for some beverages and games. http://www.royalpalmsshuffle.com/ (Gowanus)

Bar Bruno: 520 Henry Street.  Low key Mexican themed cafe, great for drinks or brunch - some outdoor seating, cute bar, good overall atmosphere.  Also a good place to have a drink while waiting for your name to be called at Lucali, some of the best pizza (and BYOB!) nearby. www.barbrunonyc.com  (Carroll Gardens)

Fancy Nancy: Brightly colored retro bar with comfort food and signature cocktails.www.fancynancybk.com (Bed Stuy)

SISTERS: An art deco dream bar with all day food and drinks and a back room for live music and DJs. Come for the drinks, leave wanting to redecorate. http://www.sistersbklyn.com/ (Clinton Hill)

Stoptime: Speakeasy with nightly live jazz. Come classy. http://stoptimebar.com/ (Bed Stuy)

Surf Bar: A cool night or day time bar and restaurant with a fun experience unlike any other. Let’s just say it bring the beach to the middle of Brooklyn! Come here all year long and expect a summer vibe. (Williamsburg) http://brooklynsurfbar.com/

Business: Co-working spaces + Shopping small: 

Shackleton Thomas: Husband/Wife Furniture and Pottery Makers just opened an outpost from their Vermont workshop in Brooklyn Heights.  Gorgeous pieces, handmade, and truly amazing people.  Not on the cheap!  But great for gifts.  I mainly want to make more money so I can one day buy a bed from from Charlie. http://www.shackletonthomas.com @shackletonthomas

Shackleton Thomas photo by Eileen Meny of Eileen Meny Photography 

Artists & Fleas: indoor hip market with dozens of independent makers and collectors showcasing art, jewelry, fashion, design and vintage. http://www.artistsandfleas.com/ IG: artistsandfleas (Williamsburg, Brooklyn and Chelsea Market, Manhattan)

Industry City - “The Landing”: Indoor industrial space in the growing Sunset Park area between Park Slope and Bay Ridge, is this little gem!  The Landing is a great co-working space that does not require payment, offers sweet treats and coffee, and has great indoor and outdoor spaces for creatives to mingle and take a little time off.  (Sunset Park)  http://www.cityfarmny.com/#!the-landing/vb55l

Berg’n: A Brooklyn beer hall with great food, indoor and outdoor picnic style tables for a friendly all day hang out and co-working space. http://www.bergn.com/ (Prospect/Crown Heights)

Artists and Fleas photo by Rachel of CR Creative Studios 

Budget: Do like the locals do (+ money saving tips) 

Juliana’s Pizza: get it to-go and have it as a picnic in the park (Brooklyn Bridge Park), http://www.julianaspizza.com/.  (Brooklyn Heights)

Hanna Food: This might seem weird because it’s legit just a deli/grocery.  However, they make baller sandwiches.  Legend has it that if you went there enough you would get to create/name a sandwich.  This is how the current  lineup is filled with sando’s with names like, The Ex-GF, Hannibal, Michael Jackson, Alexandra, The Hangover, and Hannibal (a tofu cutlet sando with brie, and apple, and avocado). Grab it and walk over to McKerran Park. (Williamsburg, Lorimer Stop)  http://www.yelp.com/biz/hana-food-brooklyn

Coney Island Beach Fireworks: From the end of June to Labor Day there are free firework show every Friday night at 9:30 pm. http://www.coneyisland.com/tourist-information (Coney Island)

L Train Vintage: Multiple locations of cheap, warehouse, and unique vintage off the L line. You’ll be amazed what you go home with, but be sure to inspect your pieces for rips or stains. http://ltrainvintage.com/

Street Food Carts & Trucks: Guaranteed amazing. If you’re in any major tourist areas, head a block over for the cheaper carts.

Best "window-shopping" walks: 

Smith St.: From Brooklyn Heights to Caroll Gardens a fun energetic street with cool shops and restaurants to explore.(Brooklyn Heights/Caroll Gardens) http://www.smithstreetbk.com/

Montague St.: Beautiful stroll down a fun street with chic shops and restaurants. Start from Court St. + Montague all the way to the Brooklyn Promenade. (Brooklyn Heights)

5th Ave.: From Park Slope to Sunset Park a strip of some of the best shops and restaurants in Brooklyn. Start on 5th ave. + Atlantic all the way to 5th ave. + 18th st. (Park Slope/Sunset Park)

Bedford Ave.: A majority of the cool things that happen in Williamsburg can be found on the Bedford Ave strip. A trip to Williamsburg isn’t complete without it.  You can start on Bedford + North 6th St. And have fun exploring from there!

Inspiration: Instagram-able spots

Brooklyn Bridge Park: Cool outdoor space with outdoor art, carousel, multiple restaurants and lots of green space with a panoramic view of the Manhattan skyline.   http://www.brooklynbridgepark.org/.  Instagram @brooklynbridgepark (Brooklyn Heights)

photo of Jane's Carousel at Brooklyn Bridge Park by Eileen Meny of Eileen Meny Photography

East River State Park: waterfront park with close-up stunning views of the Manhattan skyline. Tons of food spots close by. Park includes nice bathrooms, play area for kids, a soccer field and picnic tables. http://nysparks.com/parks/155/details (Williamsburg)

Smorgasburg, very popular weekend food celebration. Lots of vendors with a variety of food and probably the latest craze (cro-nut, raindrop cake, or whatever is next). Usually crowded but Sundays at Prospect Park tend to have shorter lines. http://www.smorgasburg.com/ (Williamsburg-Saturday, Prospect Park-Sunday)

Prospect Park, a HUGE park full of trees and rolling hills in the heart of Brooklyn. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the same dude who designed Central Park, he declared this park his masterpiece so you know it’s good. Great for running or biking and also great for just hanging out. https://www.prospectpark.org/

Bushwick Street Murals: Get off at the Morgan L stop and wander

BK Heights Murals: Get off at the F High Street Stop to see the “Yes” mural and you can easily wander to the neon murals

Coney Island Art Walls: An outdoor museum of street art. (Coney Island) http://coneyartwalls.com/

Williamsburg Bridge: A fun walk with a cool view and an awesome pink bridge! (Williamsburg)

Brooklyn Heights Brownstones: The perfect place to get lost and admire the beautiful brownstones of Brooklyn. Perfect to walk through before or after you walk to the Brooklyn Promenade. Corner of Clinton St. + Remsen St. all the way to the Promenade entrance on Remsen.

Eastern Parkway: Gorgeous tree lined street, take it all the way up to Prospect Park and relax there!
 

Contributors:

Megan Elizabeth: Megan is an abstract artist, Rising Tide Society leader and supermom living and working in Brooklyn, NY.  Her work is available at Kristen Coates Gallery in Newport, Rhode Island and at Mac + Murphy in Charleston, SC, in addition to in her online shop.  She loves to enjoy the city, take photos (on her iphone), drink coffee, and spend time with her family and friends on “NYC adventures”.  Follow along on with her on the journey as an artist and mother in NYC on instagram at @artbymegan and online at www.artbymegan.com.

Candace Camuglia: Candace Camuglia is a photographer and artist born in Staten Island, raised in Tokyo, and made in Brooklyn. She is the founder of Whom Studio, photography for creative brands and beings, which has been built on a foundation of a lifetime growing up and participating in the creative community. When not working with creatives, she is working on a variety of her own personal projects in a varying mediums or scouring New York and the world for the most impressive land and city scapes, collecting found objects in transit. www.whomstudio.com @whomstudio @casualscience

Amanda Michele: Amanda Michele is an abstract watercolor artist living and working in Brooklyn, New York. Her work has been shown across the United States and as far as Australia. She lives with her partner, Matt and dog/studio assistant, Molly Moopy. When she isn’t painting you can find her playing ukulele, training for a marathon or just exploring this amazing city. Check her out online at AmandaMicheleArt.com and on Instagram at

Luba Grosman: Luba Grosman is a photographer for businesses and families.  She creates story driven photography that captures personality of her subjects and connections between them.  Portfolio can be viewed  at www.lubagrosman.com, IG  @luba_grosman.

Rachel Hanon: Rachel is a lifestyle photographer living thriving in Manhattan, NY. She LOVES coffee, Gilmore Girls, and dogs of all shapes and sizes. Check out her work on instagram at @rachhanon, her thoughts on Twitter at @rachhanon, or her full portfolio online at www.rachelhanon.com.

Hannah Lowe Corman: Hannah lives in Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan, where she is an abstract painter and yogi. She could stare at clouds for hours from her apartment balcony, turning them into inspiration for her moody paintings, which can be found on hannahlowecorman.com. Follow her travels and artwork on Instagram @hannahlowecorman.

Jenny Fu: Jenny is a wedding photographer living in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, NY. She moved to New York four years ago from Texas because she wanted to live her dream of working in the big city (but also because she dislikes hot weather). She loves hanging out at home with her french bulldog, exploring the city, and eating all the awesome food New York has to offer. Follow her on her instagram at @jennyfustudio or visit her website at www.jennyfu.com.

MaryAnna Coleman: MaryAnna is an artist living in Manhattan.  She primarily paints with watercolors with subjects ranging from animals to houses/buildings/places.  Her work is available by contacting her through the website, as well as Artisan Spirit in Spring Lake, NJ.  She loves spending time with friends in NYC, enjoying what the city has to offer, making friends with the dogs of NYC, and checking out fun cafes/bars/restaurants. Follow her artistic work and progress on Instagram at @MaryAnnaColemanDesign and her website at www.maryannacolemandesign.com.

Rachel and Chris Gochnauer: Rachel and Chris are married lovebirds living in Brooklyn, NY in a cute apartment they renovated. They love storytelling using the mediums of photo, short films and interior decor. They adore cities, sleek design, movies and amazing cuisine. Check out their online shop for awesome NYC prints and other work at www.crcreativestudios.com and on IG @crcreativestudios.

Andrea Cohen: Andrea Cohen is the owner and designer at Chuppah Studio, a boutique design company specializing in stunning modern chuppah rentals and custom designs. She splits her time between Brooklyn, NY and Los Angeles, CA. Andrea is also a nationally celebrated sculptor and part-time professor at Parsons School of Design. The beach is her favorite place and biggest source of inspiration. www.chuppahstudio.com, IG @chuppahstudio

Erin Braun: Erin Braun is an artist and destination wedding designer living on the Upper East Side in Manhattan, NY with her husband Brett. With experience as a professional fashion designer and abstract painter, she brings a fresh perspective to the world of weddings and events. She loves exploring NYC, coffee, spending time with her family in Ohio and Michigan, gathering inspiration wherever she goes, and traveling whenever possible. Follow along with her journey and work in design, planning, custom invitations, florals, and painting on instagram @erinbraundesign and online at www.erinbraundesign.com

Chi-Chi Agbim: Chi-Chi is a wedding, portrait and lifestyle photographer living in Brooklyn. She’s obsessed with preserving memory and photography is her tool for freezing time. An art lover, hopeful romantic and glass-half-full kinda gal, she finds lots of inspiration in her daily NYC living and travels around the world. http://www.twotwenty.co/

Marina Warner: Marina is a Brooklyn-based attorney and owner of The Warner Firm, a law firm providing legal services to individuals and businesses in the fashion, arts, entertainment, media, and technology industries.  She loves discovering new NYC eats (so she doesn’t have to cook) and exploring the Big Apple with her pup.  www.thewarnerfirm.co

Eileen Meny: I am a brooklyn based wedding and portrait photographer and have been kicking around new york for the last 8 years.  I still have a bit of my hometown CT  preppy style, got a little weird studying theater at Brown in college, picked up a taste for whiskey and bit of a sailor mouth working in bars for 7 years, and now am a full time wedding and portrait photographer.  I like learning about people and creating images to tell their stories. http://eileenmenyphotography.com insta: @eileenmenyphoto

Daniela Grafman: A native New Yorker from Queens and Brooklyn, on paper, Daniela is a Certified Wedding & Event Planner, has a Bachelor’s degree from Fordham University, and serves as a Board Member for the NY Metro Chapter of the International Live Events Association. Off paper, chocolate is a true passion of hers, she loves to dance like no one’s watching, and her glass is always half full sometimes with an extra lemon. She has been coordinating and planning weddings, corporate events, non-profit galas, personal celebrations, and fundraisers for the past seven years, assisting in the growth of Vision Event Co. as the Chief Amazement Officer & Partner for the last 5 years focusing on event coordination and entertainment production. Www.visioneventco.com @visionsofd

Meghan Stolar Brown: Meghan Stolar Brown is the manager of Two Bright Lights, a network that connects photographers, event planners and vendors with over 400 publishers across the country and around the world. Meghan has extensive event planning and marketing experience at companies like Antony Todd Events and Roubini Global Economics, and understands the challenges and opportunities event entrepreneurs face. Her love for music and events grew from singing and playing piano as a toddler, to performing in recording studios and at weddings and events in the years since. Meghan holds a degree in Music Business from New York University, and lives in New York with her husband and (if everything goes her way) their future dog, “Chet”.

Angelina Montalvo: A Native New Yorker from The Bronx and works in the food and hospitality field. She received Double Bachelor's Degrees in Entrepreneurship & Small Business Management from Baruch College and Baking & Pastry Arts from CUNY BA. She has experience planning children’s parties and has been on-site support for various non-profit and culinary events. Her love and passion is event planning and baking, which inspired her to start her own company, Angie’s Fairies Event Planning, focusing on dessert table services. In interests outside of these fields, include tennis, music, graphic designs, DIY projects and anything in the creative arts. www.afparties.com, IG: @angiesfairies_eventplanning

Alie Bianco: New to New York City, Alie Bianco is a wedding, portrait , and event photographer based in NYC and Washington D.C. Alie Bianco received her Bachelor’s in Fine Art Photography from Towson University in 2010. She continued her studies in Florence, Italy in 2014 and received a Master’s in Museum Studies specializing in Photographic Archives. She currently works for Time, Inc. with the LIFE Picture Collections (yes, almost just like Walter Mitty). Her goal is to continue doing weddings in both NYC and DC focusing on the real relationships and raw emotions of the special day. www.lovecharmphoto.com ; IG: @lovecharmphoto ; FB: www.facebook.com/lovecharmphoto

Nevica Vazquez: Nevica Vazquez is a Business Strategist to creative bosses who want to make their income predictable by consistently booking dream clients. Her love for business and marketing led to a BS in Business Management and a Certification in Business Strategy. She works with creative entrepreneurs who are talented and passionate at what they do. She believes that with your business foundations in place, the right strategy behind you, and your skills & passion guiding you, you can have the profitable business of your dreams. It is her mission to work with creative biz owners on the strategy of their business; so that they can create a life of work they love, while having the time and money to spend with the people who matter most! www.nevicavazquez.com | IG: @nevicavazquez

Shadi Garman: Born in Iran and raised near Seattle, Shadi Garman now happily calls New York City home. Shadi is a wedding and lifestyle photographer, who specializes in natural light and capturing candid moments. She loves succulents, but stress out about their watering schedules. An avid traveler, Shadi has an MA in International Affairs and loves to learn about other cultures. Explore her work here: http://www.shadigarman.com & IG @shadigarman

Yari Santiago: Yari Santiago is a native New Yorker in every aspect and have lived in 4 out of the 5 boroughs! Yari is a planner of fancy events who believes in the beauty of elaborate details. She is also a believer of grace and kindness. Yari loves mani/pedis, anything gold & sparkly and of course everything Kate Spade. Yari currently resides in Williamsburg, Brooklyn (NYC) with her amazing husband. The dream began in 2013 as she began to plan every single detail of her wedding. After 22 years in the workforce, Yari finally decided to follow her heart and pursue her passion and decided to make a drastic career change and do event planning full time. Follow along on her journey of designing and planning events. www.cakeandchampagnenyc.com | IG: @cakeandchampagnenyc | FB: www.facebook.com/cakeandchampagnenyc

Justina Michaels: Justina is a native New Yorker who loves to continue to explore the evolving city. A background in art helps her bring a unique perspective to event planning, whether it be a fabulous wedding at the plaza, or an intimate affair for family and friends. She makes it her mission to understand each and every component of the day and has taken classes ranging from cake decorating to floral and graphic design. When she's not working you can find her in museums looking for inspiration and taste testing every piece of chocolate and cake she can find. www.fittingfetes.com IG: @fittingfetes

Lana Keller: Lana is the founder of Stem & Bloom, a flower subscription service in Manhattan and Brooklyn. She started Stem & Bloom after 14 years working as a fashion designer, drawing on her love of flowers and color. Favorite NYC activities include visiting the Brooklyn Flea and Smorgasburg, going out for tacos and margaritas, and long weekend brunches. www.stemandbloom.com @stemandbloom

Kate Alison Bancroft: Kate Alison is a wedding and portrait photographer based in NYC. After working as a photographer at Disneyland for years, she now captures the fairytales of fun and creative couples with unique images using bold colors. She loves tattoos, glitter, and rock’n’roll. www.katealisonphotography.com @katealisonphotography

Stacey Natal: Stacey Natal is a children’s portrait and event photographer in NYC.  She loves to capture the natural essence of childhood.  Along with photography, she is now mentoring and coaching other moms that want to start their own creative venture helping them break through the overwhelm with clear cut strategies and mindset work.
Photography:  Total City Girl - www.TitalCityGirl.com  IG:  @totalcitygirl // Mentoring:  Life Happens Now - www.LifeHappensNow.com  IG:  life.happens.now

Zaira Stefani Vallejo: Zaira is a Miami-transplant living (and loving) in New York City. Zaira has been collaborating with industry professionals to create stunning event atmospheres with Nuage Designs since 2012. She also crafts marketing campaigns for the brand, taking concepts from grand ideas to execution across email, blog and social networks. When not playing with textiles or uploading pretty pictures, you can find her enjoying a fancy cocktail, shopping for new shoes or exploring Magical NYC. Connect with her on Instagram @zairavallejo. http://nuagedesigns.com/

Amélie Walker-Yung: Amélie is the owner of Castle Builder Design (www.castlebuilder.com), a web design company in NYC serving creative companies and innovative individuals. She is also the baker and blogger of Cupcakes by Amélie (www.cupcakesbyamelie.com). A New Yorker for almost two decades, Louisiana-born Amélie currently resides with her husband in Brooklyn Heights. IG/Twitter: @cupcakeamelie

Want to join us for a meet-up!!?  Find out more about Tuesdays Together Brooklyn. 

Starting a new life in a new city (especially as a little one) is hard.  

Especially when you leave behind your family, entire support system, friends and your BFF in the entire world.  I am not writing this to cue some sort of violin concerto in our honor, but to share a tiny little bit of help that worked for us along the way.  

Books. 

It seems rather obvious, but reading books about moving to my little one helped immensely. We could talk for hours with her about how it was going to be ok, how we would love NYC and make new friends, but when we read about it together, it like someone else (a cooler, more neutral party) was reassuring her instead.  

Here are our all-time favorite books about moving / starting over:

1.  "Here I am" by Patti Kim.  This book is amazing for so many reasons, but because it shows the psychology of moving completely from a kid's perspective.  "Here I am" is a graphic novel without words, so it helps a child to tell the story from their perspective as well.  Each time we read it, her story changes a little bit and evolves, which is really SO COOL to watch as a parent.  

The little boy protagonist moves from one place to another and is extremely overwhelmed at first about the move.  Everything is different (language, food, culture, friends, subway, etc.) and he must learn to adjust by trial and error, stepping out of his comfort zone, and by making new friends.  Suddenly, one day, he can understand things a little better.  When we first read this book, I just about burst into tears because my daughter said "oh, now he is at home" at the end. Give it a read, trust me. 

2. "Neville" by Norton Juster.  This book ROCKS!  So, I don't know about you, but I don't like books that "talk" to kids like they're dumb.  This book is clever, heartfelt, and so witty and told from a young boy's perspective.  Neville moves to a new city, basically hates everyone and is pissed off in general, then goes out to explore the new neighborhood.  While he's out, he starts shouting "NEVVILLLLLLLEEEEEE" and attracts a new crew of curious kid followers.  Without revealing the entire book, be forewarned, you will CRY on the last page.  Like a deep, ugly, guttural cry.  

My daughter LOVES LOVES LOVES "Neville".  You know why?  Because you get to shout NE-VILLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEE the entire time.  Also, because she didn't ever want someone to say directly to her: "So, you miss your best friends down the street?  Here's how to make some new ones?  It's really simple...".  

She wants to see that by being clever, a little bit tricky, and kind of funny, you can make some new friends.  She also wanted someone "her age" (Neville is a drawing, but he seems cool and in touch to her, I can tell) that moving sucks.  A lot.  But then, it gets better.  

I have a plan up my sleeve about a book that I hope comes to fruition someday.  A little girl travels the world with her crazy-but-fun-artist-mom and brave-but-silly-world-traveling-dad.  Like "Eloise" (but a little edgier) meets "Harriet-the-Spy" (but a little more modern) meets Disney's "Brave" (with a little less hair) meets "Carmen San Diego" (with an equally awesome trench coat).  

Like the Jealous Curator says.  I just sent that idea out into the universe, so now we will see what happens.  

As many of you know, a vast majority of the inspiration for my artwork comes from the beach. The light, the layers of textures and colors, and the overall mood of the beach has always inspired me.  I just cannot get enough of it.  

Last month, my friend Laura, of Laura Lee Photography, and I headed out to do a lifestyle photo shoot at the beach in Coney Island, Brooklyn.  It was windy and a little chilly, but the sun was shining and we were ready to talk art, following dreams, business strategy and even do a little painting on the beach.  Her photos are AMAZING and I wanted to share a couple with you today. Be sure to check her out on social media too, at @lauraleecreative.  

Laura and I met at Creative at Heart Conference Round 2 in Charleston, South Carolina in November of 2015.  We hit it off right away because we are both seriously passionate about what we do, totally wacky + silly, and very adventurous ladies with major wanderlust + travel goals. Laura has recently started a new venture, in addition to her photography business, to document and profile creatives who are following their dreams as makers and artists.  

Enjoy the beautiful photos and happy Tuesday! 

M

Also, during our shoot, a little over-excited puppy came over to me with boundless energy and Laura captured what might be the best / funniest photo blooper ever!  hehe.

Photo by Amy Frances Photography.  Taken this past summer in my studio.  

If you follow me on Instagram, you know that I have a tiny studio mate.  She is my business parter, best buddy, and an actually really fun person to paint with.  When I tell people that we paint together I typically get two reactions: 1) "Oh my, I would not know where to begin letting my toddler paint with me, that must be so messy" or 2) "Wow, that sounds so amazing (while skeptically wondering if I am telling the whole truth)". 

So, here it is, the raw, unfiltered version of what it really is like to share a studio with a little one.

The Art by Megan general rules for painting with little ones:

1.  Set limits.  I cannot expect to get a full day's worth of work done in a day with a kid.  It is not fair, nor reasonable.  I can expect that we can work for about 1-2 hours, with maybe a break for snacks (for me, obviously).  

2.  Set rules + dedicate a space to mess.  There is only painting happening in our art room.  I don't want to wipe it off of our nice Ikea kitchen (:)) table or the TV or the shower walls, so it needs to happen in a confined, well-planned out space.  I find that if I can relax while painting with her, we both have more fun.  

Photo taken by my handsome hubby.  He loves to sneak in and watch "his girls" at work.  Note: Old shirt with paint stains, hair up (me, not her) and old yoga pants.  Mom uniform, what what.  

3.  Dress for success.  So, if you have ever eaten with a person under the age of 10, you know that things happen that don't seem reasonable or expected.  The same rule applies to painting together.  Wear an old shirt, old pants, paint barefoot and let your kid wear a smock, or paint Au Naturale (I am serious, it seems crazy but they totally love it!).  

4.  Schedule. So, you have a fancy lunch with grandma at 12 noon?  Don't paint in the morning.  My favorite time for painting with my little is late afternoon or evening, right before bath time.  It's soothing, calming, funny and silly to paint together, and then can be cleaned right up in a vigorous scrubbing-bubbles bath immediately after.  Picture this: I literally carry her by the armpits to the tub after a painting session and say "go to town, little lady".  Avoid angry post-painting scrubbing or stressing.  You just had tons of messy fun, after all. 

5.  "Let it go".  My 2nd favorite Disney princess says it best.  If you decide to give it a stab and let painting happen in your home, accept the fact that THERE WILL BE A MESS.  If you can't wrap your mind around it, take them to the park and paint.  If your house is super gorgeous and expensive, let them paint in the backyard.  If you feel brave enough to let it happen indoors, be prepared to wipe some things down afterwards.  (*magic eraser did not sponsor this post!) 

6.  Lesson plan.  I love the website / blog "Modern Parents, Messy Kids".  They have awesome lesson plans dedicated to age appropriate activities that make it more fun.  Also, art museum websites and Pinterest have a million great ideas.  Just accept that your work will not look like Pinterest, and go on with your bad self.  Here is an article I wrote for Capital Style magazine that has a fun, SUPER EASY idea for painting with a little one.  

7.  Keep 'em separated.  I plan a little space for my little and then show her what I am going to be working on.  I tell her up front, "You can work on your art for a little while while I work on mine.  Then you can help me".  I always let her help me, though, because it seems so much cooler to a little person to help with the "REAL" art that is happening.  

Now, you can do it.  Take baby steps.  Learn to love the mess.  It's a beautiful mess, indeed.  

Small hands, big mess, can't lose. #artbyizzypa 💛

"Small hands, big mess, can't lose. #artbyizzypa 💛"

This Friday is opening night at HERE. A Pop-Up Shop in Annapolis, Maryland.  The women who run this awesome pop-up are amazing and have really helped me become a more serious and dedicated (albeit crazy busy!) artist.  I will always be thankful for their kind words, support and inspiration of local talent. This POP-UP is themed LIVE.LOVE.(shop)LOCAL.  I will be painting LIVE during the week of the shop, so hope to see some of you there!

Come on over on Friday night, 7-9pm at 40 West Street in Annapolis for opening night.  Or come see us any night next week for fun local art, crafts, and vendors.

The 14 in 2014 online book club has returned in 2014!  Our first pick is "Where'd You Go Bernadette" by Maria Semple.  I loved this book, immediately upon beginning.  Turns out that the author worked in writing sitcoms in her past and this book reads just like that; fast-paced, hilarious, touching and addictive!  And the hilarious, snarky email banter between characters Soon-Lin and Audrey had me in stitches.  (note: this book club is so effective, because of the awesome ladies in it!  I have been trying to do this kind of thing for years and never actually did it.  Read more about that here. I never read any of those books listed...so sad!)  Join us on Facebook!

Read more here about what the NYtimes had to say about this awesome book pick for our club.

"The tightly constructed “Where’d You Go, Bernadette” is written in many formats — e-mails, letters, F.B.I. documents, correspondence with a psychiatrist and even an emergency-room bill for a run-in between Bernadette and Audrey. Yet these pieces are strung together so wittily that Ms. Semple’s storytelling is always front and center, in sharp focus. You could stop and pay attention to how apt each new format is, how rarely she repeats herself and how imaginatively she unveils every bit of information. But you would have to stop laughing first." (NYtimes) 

Also, how adorable is Bee, the main character?  She is one of my favorite leading ladies for her curiosity, uniqueness and ability to stand apart from her granola-eating, Seattle, prep-school buddies. Bee's parents Bernadette and Elgin are so wonderfully flawed and real that a real parent like myself cannot help but love them.  And the end of the novel, well...gasp!  I loved that too!

What did you guys think?  Join us for February's book "Wild" by Cheryl Strayed.  

Last year's 13 in 2013 book club included the following:

"The Light Between Oceans", Mindy Kaling's hilarious memoir, Gone Girl, Flight Behavior, Sweet Tooth, The Normal Bar, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society, And the Mountains Echoed.

More book reviews here (ideas for book club!):

"Sightseeing"

"American Dervish"

Guest post written by Kate.

"I thoroughly enjoyed Mindy Kaling's first book, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? As I read the book, I heard her voice in my head for each and every word. All last year Hulu kept recommending her show to me, and I kept thinking, "I know I am going to love but I really just don't have the time now Hulu!" When all season finales were over for the year in May, I gave in and watched the entire Mindy Project in two days. Similarly, I devoured the book in 72 hours or less. Mindy has a knack for writing, and like her role model Tina Fey, is hilarious and wise at the same time. The book actually reminded me of Tina's Bossypants a lot. It is always interesting to learn how people go from awkward teenagers to Hollywood actors and writers. It is also so refreshing to hear someone talk about mistakes and immature office shenanigans without sugar coating it. Everyone makes mistakes, maybe not everyone has a chance to storm out of a writers meeting and throw a hissy fit, but not everyone gets to work with Steve Carrell either. My only complaint was this- it was too short! I can't wait to read more of her writing in the future."

Stay tuned by more guest posts by Kate, she's pretty darn great! ;)

This year, at my school, we are celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month in style. Our slogan (catchphrase) for the month, which we are celebrating during all of October, is "Be Like Frida".  To be honest, at first, the kids had NO CLUE what we were talking about and they just made fun of Frida for being a weird artist with a unibrow and mustache.  Standard.

But then, something magical started to happen as we talked about her to our students, they fell in love!  Frida represents a lot of GREAT, INSPIRING and all-together awesome ideas that young people living in 2013 can really relate to.  She stood up for the people in her country without rights, she had a unique style, she rebelled against the norm in almost every way possible, she broke the rules, she challenged peoples' ideas, and she represented feminine beauty in a whole new light.  Any teachers out there who want to share our AWESOME Power Point presentation, email me!

I have been researching and studying Frida now for a couple of weeks, and now all I want to do is visit her beautiful town, Coyoacán, Mexico and see her amazing home, La Casa Azul.  #traveldaydreams

Also, check out these related links:

La Casa Azul, in NYC 

Frida, the movie! (note: awesome!) 

Frida, the kids book (my little one loves it and my students do too!)

Coyoacan Mexico travel guide

Great Latino Book Club 

So, did everyone finish reading "The Light Between Oceans" and have a little time to recover? All I have to say is that our August book ("The Secret Keeper") better be happier!

I knew I was done for as soon as I met the main characters, Izzy (really!??) and Tom.  However, despite the UBER depressing story of love, lies, deception and parenting, I truly liked this tale.  The details about Australia were compelling, the narration about life as a lighthouse keeper was interesting, the tale of baby Lucy was heart-wrenching and I could not put the book down.

However, I was literally sobbing at the end.  I was snorting-alone-on-the-couch-style crying.  A bit intense!

I especially loved the tender moments between Tom and Lucy and the description of their beautiful connection.  Also, I loved to see how the resolution of the tale worked out.  Don't worry, I won't spoil any more!

What did you think? Also, how beautiful was the cover art?

June's Book Club pick was "And the Mountains Echoed" by Khaled Hosseini, author of "The Kite Runner" and "A Thousand Splendid Suns".  The book was set in Afghanistan, just as his others were, and told the tragic tale of the interwoven lives of several people living in the transitional years before, during and after the Taliban in Afghanistan.  The story was EXTREMELY sad, the book club was a little up in arms about reading such a depressing book (sorry girls!), but Hosseini writes so poignantly and with such talent, that the terrible tale of others disaster and misfortune is still a compelling tale.  We all cried, right?  I hope so.

I always enjoy a story that has the "Crash movie effect".  In other words, everyone's lives are interconnected and woven in such a complicated and interrelated plot.  In the end, the sad tales of one's life are related so closely to the plot of another and it is so very intriguing  to me at least!

What did you guys think?

Join our book club here: 13 in 2013 on Facebook.

Next up, "The Light Between Oceans" for July.  (It's realllllllly good!)

Also, have you checked out this blog (Joy the Baker)?  She has a great round up of Book Club ideas and a collaborative summer reading list!  I love it.  We may have to continue this Book Club for years and years, to get through all of these books! :)