How gorgeous is this house?  We’ve been having a bit of a heatwave here in NYC that has left me dreaming about heading upstate to jump in cool crisp lakes, eat homemade blueberry pies and catch up on the stack of magazines that is continuing to grow on my coffee table.

The Ten Broeck Cottage by Messana O’Rorke Architects located in Hudson, New York, is the perfect juxtaposition of old and new; I love the reclaimed pine floor boards and richly oiled wood against the stainless steel and slate.  The farmhouse sits on eight acres, four of which are filled with Rome apple trees and the Taghkanic Creek runs alongside the property with “plunge spots.”  It’s pretty clear that this three bedroom house would be the perfect getaway with some of our dearest friends.  Lucky for us, you can rent the house here.

A few weeks ago we headed out to the North Fork of Long island with the mission of having a long and leisurely lunch at the beautiful The North Fork Table and Inn in Southold. The experience was exactly what we were hoping for; after nearly three hours of indulgence, we left with full bellies and big smiles. If you are ever in the Northfork or simply want to spend a day exploring the nearby vineyards, farm stands and beaches, stop by and enjoy an afternoon with these fine folks. They’ll take good care of you.

The Meal:

Dill Marinated Organic Scottish Salmon with a Corn Blini, Assorted Radish and Horseradish Mousse

Alderwood Smoked Cod & Local Yukon Gold Potato Cake with Truffled Tarter Sauce and Micro Herb Salad

Housemade Ricotta Cavatelli & Roasted Satur Farms Cauliflower with Flat Parsley, Pecorino Romano

Slow-Braised Boneless Shortrib of Naturally Raised Beef with Wilted Baby Spinach and Local Yukon Gold Potatoes

Warm Sugar Donuts with Vanilla Anglaise

Good, a magazine “for people who give a damn,” recently released their first ever GOOD 100.  They invited people to nominate people, businesses and institutions who are making the world a better place.  After a complex process of nomination, ranking, and voting, they compiled a list of those who are driving change in the world.  Their list ranges from the city that is manufacturing the first American-built streetcars in almost 60 years (Go Portland!) to a program that aims to save water and money by paying residents $1 to $2 for every square foot of grass they replace with drought-resistant plants.

As promised on the cover, some I have heard of and some I have not. Either way, it is presented in an interactive grid that is both aesthetically pleasing and inspiring.  Every day until October 22nd, they will release five new entries so make sure to check out the site often.

*How amazing is the cover of the issue?  The cover was shot by Will Etling and styled by Brian Rea and features an amazing collection of hand-cut (and glued and taped) construction-paper models.  They gave us all a behind the scenes look at the shoot here.

Ok.  This is kind of brilliant.  While there have been a number of brands that have launched heritage collections, I’ve found a lot of them uninspiring and pretty forced.  However, Cole Rood & Haan, a footwear collection inspired by Cole Haan’s 1920′s Chicago roots and taken directly from the historic archives, proves different. They have managed to update some vintage designs with modern touches and great leathers.   Not only do the shoes look great but I love the way they have chosen to market and brand the collection.

The marketing campaign highlights an entrepreneurial lifestyle.  They made the very wise decision to hire Todd Selby aka The Selby to shoot the campaign, which features entrepreneurs in NYC who run businesses that take old things and make them new again in a fresh and innovative way.  The shoot takes place at four places: The Smile- a Cafe and Mixed-Use Concept Store, Jack’s Coffee-the inventor of the “stir brew technique,” Maryam Nassir Zadeh, an amazing boutique carrying things that are both new and old and Black Sheep and Prodigal Sons, an edgy, beautifully crafted jewelry line.  By using real people in real life situations the whole line just feels more authentic.  These are shoes you want to wear on your way to the studio for a day of brainstorming and bags you want to cram full with a notebook, pens, magazines and bits of inspiration you find on the street.  You can see the full shoot here.

Last week we had the opportunity to spend the day up at the Storm King Art Center.  Storm King is a sprawling 500 acre museum filled with sculptures by Alexander Calder, Magdalena Abakanowicz, Mark di Suvero, Richard Serra, Ursula von Rydingsvard and many others.  Imagine rolling hills, birds, wild flowers and the ability to wander and explore from all angles.  Regardless of the cloudy skies and sprinkles, it was a perfect way to spend a day.  We’ll no doubt be back again soon for a picnic and more wandering.