Become Your Dream

It all started about three years ago when I moved to the Upper East Side from Murray Hill. I just graduated from a challenging graduate program at New York University and I was ready to take on the “real world.” After six straight years of academia, I was hoping to have a better idea of what this “real world” was like and I chose to start my new journey on the Upper East Side.

The first few months after graduation were difficult and I still did not know exactly what I wanted to do with my life. I felt lost and confused. Even in a huge city like New York with endless possibilities, I needed a sign that I was moving in the right direction. Then one day when I walked out of my five-story walk-up, I saw three simple words that hit me like a ton of bricks. Written on a dirty, old twin mattress slumped against the curbside were the words –

Become Your Dream

Alongside that powerful phrase was a picture of a fish jumping out of its tank. Tears immediately swelled in my eyes. How could three simple words have such an impact on me? Maybe because I was finally that fish taking a leap of faith and jumping out of the tank into the world? Months passed by and I did not see the words again - but I never forgot them. Then about six months later when I was having a hard time at my first job after graduate school, I saw those three beautiful words on an old Ikea dresser –

Become Your Dream

This time, however, the name De La Vega was written next to it. I immediately went up to my apartment and Googled “Become Your Dream De La Vega.” To my surprise, James De La Vega is a famous artist in New York City who has been spreading his thought-provoking words throughout the city for many years – first in East Harlem and now with a museum in the East Village. I was even more delighted to discover that in 2005, De La Vega painted a mural of his iconic words and jumping fish on a brick wall located in my very own Upper East Side neighborhood. Thankfully, this mural is still around and can be found on East 95th Street between 1st and 2nd Avenue for locals to visit and draw inspiration from its beautiful colors and message.


I can honestly say that ever since I saw my first “Become Your Dream” three years ago, I have a more positive outlook on my future and I am taking the necessary steps to reaching my true potential. A few months ago, I met De La Vega for the first time and told him how his words changed my life. He asked me why those three words aroused such emotion in me. I told him it meant so much because the real world is not always easy and I am discovering that everyday – post graduate school. There are so many people, places, and opportunities that it is easy to lose yourself and – most importantly your dreams – in the chaos of everyday life and particularly in a city like New York. Seeing those three words pop out of garbage cans and juxtaposed in the middle of a busy street really makes me stop and reflect what I want out of my life.

Unfortunately, I do not have photos from my first encounters of De La Vega’s message three years ago, but I recently began making a scrapbook of every “Become Your Dream” I find on the Upper East Side and have over 50 photos in my collection. De La Vega himself does not write every “Become Your Dream” I stumble across but, rather, it is people just like me who are inspired by his words and want to spread the message to others.

I urge everyone to visit East 95th Street and witness De La Vega’s Upper East Side treasure. It will inspire you to jump out of the tank and “Become Your Dream.”

Making Everyday Life Beautiful at Marimekko

Is it Japanese? Swedish? Danish? This is a common question customers ask themselves as they browse the shelves of the vibrant Upper East Side store – Marimekko. Do not let the name confuse you, however. Marimekko is a staple and proud national treasure of Finland. As an Upper East Sider with Finnish roots, I hold a special place in my heart for this bold and beautiful textile, clothing, and home goods store. As the only Marimekko store in New York, and one of the few in the United States, we are lucky to have a neighborhood outlet to unleash our inner Finn.

While many Upper East Siders admire Marimekko for its quality of clothing, array of modern textiles, and practical home goods – there is another important reason locals should be lucky to have a foreign gem in our neighborhood. When Armi Ratia (1912-1979) began to commission young artists to design fabrics in 1951 with her husband’s textile firm, people admired the boldly colored prints, yet did not know how to use them in everyday life. In order to demonstrate the use of these new fabrics, a small collection of clothing was put together for a fashion show. The effervescent colors and fresh styles gave new life to Finland as people were still recovering from the somber and gray post-war years.

The Marimekko mission is to give people hope and joy by making everyday life beautiful. As New Yorkers, we know all too well that the hustle and bustle of the city can be overwhelming. But the moment you step into this Finnish wonderland on the Upper East Side, the colors will transport you to a place of nature, dreams, and memories and you will leave the noise of the city outside.

Now that New York’s tough winter weather is almost behind us, there is no better way to jump into springtime than with a trip to Marimekko. Starting this Friday, March 12, New Yorkers will have a once in a lifetime opportunity to indulge in a “Spring Cleaning” sale with items up to 70% off including clothing, home and bath items, kitchen ware, shoes, bags, and more! All Marimekko aficionados should travel to the Upper East Side and take advantage of this incredible sale until March 22.

How will you express your inner Finn this season?!

Visit Marimekko at 1262 Third Avenue between 72nd and 73rd Street or on the web at http://www.kiitosmarimekko.com

The Magnificent Lady M

Cheering on all those svelte, fit Olympians the last two weeks certainly caused me to yearn for my own…leaner days. This didn’t prevent me from recently stopping into the beautiful Lady M Cake Boutique on 78^th between Madison and Park Avenues. Over the years, I have often peeked through her sidewalk-to-ceiling windows and the cakes inside have certainly beckoned. I knew crossing that glass threshold was going to cost me some calories, but it just could not be resisted.

What I found inside was, well, simply put: heaven. The space is almost entirely white with a marble and glass counter lit from below. The floors are white, the chairs are white, the walls are white. And the flowers? They’re white, too. This might sound like a sterile atmosphere, but it is actually extremely warm. The pristine setting lets the cakes speak for themselves. More accurately, I think these would sing. I imagine a sweet operatic soprano savoring new love (or trying to convince you you’re more beautiful without a waistline.)

General Manager Kim Lawrence tells me that the concept behind the store was to not only have exquisite confections, but to serve them in an elegant, sophisticated space. Really, she says, “the cakes are like the jewelry of the store.” And they are gorgeous. The banana Mille Feuille is especially striking and, in its half-consumed state, looks a little bit like the Sydney Opera House. The berries circling the top of the Strawberry Mille Feuille have been placed with incomprehensible precision. And the Green Tea Mousse Cake is veritably verdant.

I opted for the selection most modest in appearance and most enticing in description: The Lady M Mille Crepes. “No less than 20 thin, hand-made crepes layered with an ethereally light and creamy custard.” This is Lady M’s signature cake, the jewel this boutique is famous for, and likely what regularly fills up the eight or so tiny tables of this unique space. Customers regularly pop in to purchase entire crepe cakes to take away ($40 for a small, $75 for full size); I assume they are the grand finale to many local dinner soirees.

My husband opted for the Blanc Glace Chocolate Cake and we both ordered lattes with skim (as if this one sensible decision would balance out the decadence.)

We were both delighted with our selections, to say the least. The crepe cake was divine: rich, but not too sweet. Eggy, and creamy, and indeed layered with more individual crepes than I could count, creating an attractive cross cut: my mother has always contended that, where beauty is concerned, what’s most important is on the inside. And this dessert certainly bears this out. The chocolate cake was also wonderful, if not quite as unique.

While enjoying this Saturday afternoon treat, I noticed that Lady M also offers a few sandwiches (Smoked Salmon, Tomato Mozzarella, Brie, etc.), some croissants, and some equally stylish individual sweets like Chocolate Eclairs and a Very Berry tartlet. I also noted that Classical music lilted softly in the background; customers seemed to keep their voices hushed as if in sugary reverence.

Lady M opened her doors in 2005. Lawrence tells me that there is no actual “Lady M”, which disappointed me, somewhat. I was beginning to imagine her as a modern iconoclast with a blackberry in one hand, a quill pen in the other, red lipstick as carefully applied as those strawberries, and just a hint of flour on her black cashmere turtleneck…but I digress, (and I suppose I can to continue to think of her in that way if I so desire...) The boutique is actually owned by various investors and chefs overseas and Lawrence was brought in to launch and run it. The cakes are composed in Queens.

This area on the Upper East Side was identified as a perfect spot for this kind of venture. It is a happy coincidence that the Wedding Library (kind of like a wedding research storefront featuring different local vendors) opened up next door around the same time. There is no connection between the businesses, but I presume many brides-to-be enjoy stopping in to Lady M with their mothers or bridesmaids. Then again, if they’re trying to squeeze into that strapless dress, they may want to think twice….

The boutique is open Mon-Fri 10-7, Sat 11-7 and Sun 11-6. Even though this indulgence may have taken me even further from Olympic form, I give this little spot a gold medal…perhaps, in this case, best hung from a string of milky-white pearls, (or crystallized sugar?) Point is, I highly recommend.