Never say never, but it’s highly unlikely that you will ever see me sporting a purple and green sweater. But when it comes to plants, my tastes take a decidedly different turn. If you spend time in Dumbo, you probably walk by these ornamental cabbages/kale on a semi-regular basis. They are on Front Street in wooden planters outside of a bar and restaurant called Superfine. I always forget that they are there, and always always stop and look at them when I pass. I figured yesterday’s blackout warranted some extra color today. By the way, did you know these are edible?

If you’ve been to Dumbo you may already be familiar with the LAND storefront studio and gallery. LAND is a program of the League Education & Treatment Center, which features the work of artists living with disabilities. It is an amazingly fertile environment, run by the fantastic Matthew Murphy. If you’ve passed by, you’ve also likely stopped in front of the large windows and smiled to yourself after seeing Dean Millien’s menagerie. He calls the series “tin things” because they are all (expertly!) made from aluminum foil. I first saw these a few years ago, and promised that one day I would assemble a post, because my affection for them has never wavered. Dean has been making these creatures since he was a child, and you can tell! With amazing accuracy and humor, he manages to capture both the essence of the animals’ gestures as well as their underlying anatomy. The pieces pictured here are quite small, but he works in a full range of sizes. Pay a visit to the gallery and check out the larger than life-size gorilla! And, while you’re there, definitely make sure to peruse the work of all the other exceptional artists.

I was on the lookout for a couple of basting brushes to replace my very ratty greasy ones. I thought about getting silicone brushes, but they don’t really soak up the liquids the way I want. And something about silicone and food coming together has never really sat that well with me. The other day, while wandering around Dean & Deluca trying to pass 15 minutes before a meeting, I came upon these lovely specimens. Something about the combination of the bristles, the cerulean blue plastic and the wooden handles make me quite happy. I also have a thing for brushes. More to come.

I’m sorry, some things were better back in the day. Well, at least they looked better anyway. As for functionality, let’s not discuss it. Totally grabbed this image from the sweet bella website.