(via kristenbarry)
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"The true New Yorker secretly believes that people living anywhere else have to be, in some sense, kidding."
John Updike (via kottke)
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valentine's day article I wrote.
As Valentine’s Day approaches, bakeries in the East Village are getting ready for a busy weekend, despite consumers’ still-present worries over the economy. Several bakeries in the area indicated that, if not flourishing, sales of baked goods have remained steady. Deals and promotions across the board lure customers in, and cupcakes are a perennial favorite that sell especially well in the heart-shaped, red, and pink variety at this time of years.
Valentine’s Day, based on the numbers, is a huge consumer holiday. According to the US Census Bureau, 180 million Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged, and 17% of households participate in Valentine’s Day by buying “other gifts” (gifts that are not classified under greeting cards, candy, date nights, flowers, gift cards, jewelry, or cologne/perfume). Overall sales of baked goods are approximately 4.4 million dollars, according to the American Institute of Baking. Accordingly, sales of baked goods pick up around Valentine’s Day, at least in the bakeries surveyed. “It’s going to be three days of hell,” owner Peggy Williams of Sugar Sweet Sunshine said, almost excitedly, perched on a stool. “Good hell, but still hell.”
“Anything pink and with hearts sells around this time,” manager Chelley Sherman of BabyCakes NYC explained while slathering a cake with chocolate frosting. Andy Igusti, manager of Pinisi Bakery, affirmed a similar trend. “Red velvet is popular, it’s an occasion cake. Valentine’s Day, Christmas, any occasion.” Derrick Flynn, a student studying at the Culinary Institute of America, said the same when sharing his experience working at a bakery around Valentine’s Day. “Anything cliché - pink, red, hearts - that’s what sold really well around Valentine’s Day.”
Marco Lopez, the manager of cozy Butter Lane, looks forward to Valentine’s Day weekend sales. “I can guarantee it will be a madhouse.” He explained that it can be a challenge to get people there because the location of the bakery was out of the way, but package and combination deals like 2-for-1 cupcakes really help. Ms. Williams of Sugar Sweet Sunshine also stated that customers love deals, continuing to express that “it’s a little early to tell” about Valentine’s Day sales, but doesn’t seem worried. Sales have remained steady since last year; usually, there’s growth from year to year, but “thank god sales have remained similar.” Ms. Sherman expressed a more optimistic sentiment. “The recession hasn’t really affected sales, not so much here. I don’t think it would affect us that much, because we’re a speciality bakery and people are always hungry.”
“This doesn’t hurt,” said Mr. Igusti, in reference to the cost of baked goods. It’s something that people can still afford. “We’re not a big business or restaurant,” he clarified. Accordingly, Pinisi Bakery hasn’t seen slowdowns the way those types of places may have. However, he did reiterate, “It’s too soon to tell this year,” with regards to Valentine’s Day sales. Like the others, though, Mr. Igusti is confident. “We’re busy anyways,” he said with a smile.
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Entry Level - Salima Rajwani Beautifies Eyebrows by Way of a Thread - NYTimes.com →
This is awesome. It’s an interview with a threader.
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The best snack to traverse the Atlantic—theyre nacho cheese bugles all the way from Holland. Verdict? Recieving a surprise package in the mail from a Dutch friend containing these is enough to make up for the lack of snow day.
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Why Taylor Swift Offends Little Monsters, Feminists, and Weirdos →
A really fantastic analysis of Taylor Swift. (thx, alex)
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photo replies!
Anyone want to leave me a photo reply? Just so I can see how it works?
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As far as a the likenesses to Gmail, I am hearing that this year, or at least in the near future, Facebook is going to make a powerplay and establish an e-mail system. This would be revolutionary as most of our personal connections, and now even business, are attached to our FB profiles. There is an article about the emergence of FB’s e-mail feature and how they’re reworking the message system to overtake Gmail. The crazy thing is that the overtake and the aftermath of developing what insiders are calling the “Gmail killer” is actually very possible.
The thing that scares me about Facebook email is that 1) despite my inclination not to, if everyone uses it, then I will be suckered into using it too and 2) so instead of Google knowing everything about you, Facebook would?
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Wassily Kandinsky, Composition No. 8, 1923
Reblogging because this is one of my favorite pieces of art, ever. I pretty much love anything Kadinsky does.
Theme: Linear by Peter Vidani
