WARBY PARKER LOVE


Last week I went to the doctor to have my eyes examined. Recently I found myself squinting to read street signs and the scores scrolling across the bottom of the screen on ESPN (blame it on the hours of grad school reading!). Turns out I need a tiny prescription to correct this, which I took as an opportunity to buy some cool glasses!

I have been in love with Warby Parker for a while—they have an impeccable design sense, the fabulous mission to donate one pair of glasses for every pair purchased and (as of this summer) have several beautiful new showrooms in New York. I headed over to their Greene Street store on Friday to pick up my glasses and nearly swooned. Not only were the display cases gorgeous, but they had fostered an old-world library vibe, complete with gold reading lamps, library ladders and color-coded bookshelves (yes!!).



They even have a (free) photo booth so you can pose for a quick picture with your new frames! Love!

After much discussion with a lovely sales associate (a sweet guy who goes to the New School and majors in media studies; I wanted to befriend him instantly!), I decided to get the Welty in Whisky Tortoise. They are a little bit bigger/hipper than standard rectangular readers but still cool enough that I my face will appear stylish. At least I hope so!
And the bonus? All of Warby Parker's frames, including prescription, are only $95. Win!

Even one of my favorite artists, Jason Polan (who is trying to draw every person in New York), has hit up Warby Parker! All the cool kids are doing it!
Check out all the Warby Parker goodness here and find a store here.


p.s. This is not a sponsored post (I don't do those), I just like to gush about good companies when I find them. :)

SHELVED SETS

Cooks Books
Piano Books
American Flag
Sherlock Holmes
I Heart Books

I am a sucker for beautiful books. But you know what really gets me? Beautiful book sets. They just look so lovely on your bookshelf and they are the perfect opportunity to expand your library.
The Fab.com sale today of literary collections compiled by Juniper Books is enough to make any bookworm or design lover drool. I particularly love the sets of classic literature (Dickens, Hardy, Austen, etc.) joined together to form a piano keyboard, or a selection of American writings enveloped in a US flag. Cool, right?

Check out the full sale here (Not a member? Join here). You can also check out my previous Fab.com obsessions here.





DISCOVERY CENTER

QUEENS LIBRARY 3
QUEENS LIBRARY 4
QUEENS LIBRARY 2
QUEENS LIBRARY 6
QUEENS LIBRARY 5
QUEENS LIBRARY 1


Did you have a good long weekend? Even though it was absolutely beautiful here in New York, I spent the whole weekend inside writing a paper. Bummer!


On a different note, how cool is this new Children's Library in Queens? It makes me think of all the wonderful hours I spent getting lost in the story of a new book as a kid (or, for that matter, now!). Get more information about this beautiful building here.


BOOK LOVERS NEVER GO TO BED ALONE







I am an avid reader and thus my book collection is rather out of control. It represents about 75% of the unpacked boxes in my new apartment mostly because our bookcases will not be delivered for another two weeks. Until I can finally free my beloved art books and paperback novels, I will be drooling over this tumblr photo stream of various bookcases and shelving ideas for libraries as voluminous as mine (pun fully intended). Check it out here.

p.s. Isn't that title great? "Book lovers never go to bed alone." I might just have to frame that.

THE PERFECT ROOM TO PHOTOGRAPH



Yet another reason to love the UPPERCASE gallery - today they posted this drool-inducing photograph of an abandoned Russian library.  What I wouldn't give to tote my 35mm around in that room!  The curling paint on the wall reminds me of curling Baroque scrolls - almost too good to be true.  Originally posted at this Russian blog, you will do better viewing the remaining photos here (English makes it a bit easier to navigate).