Where's the FASHION, where's the STYLE?

It's right here in the big apple! When you're designing and producing jewelry, you've got to know who is wearing what, and there is no better way to see what is in style all around the world than to stroll the streets of Manhattan.

The city is never prettier than it is on a friday evening, the weather just right, and people are all in a relaxed mood. New York City is an amazing tourist destination, and it really inspires me. There's no need to journey to Paris or Berlin, just walk the streets that the tourists tend to visit. Want to see what's popular in Brazil- head over to "little brazil" on 46th street in Manhattan and see what the women of brazil are wearing right in your own back yard.
See my Greenwich Village Slideshow

I had to run some errands and decided to pick up some food for dinner. Yes, in a city with a million restaurants I do cook dinner at home, at least once in a while. In Greenwich Village, you'll find plenty of "old italian stores" that still make suasage in the back, and import cheese from Italy you can't get in a supermarket anywhere. I love Faicco's and remember when we had a latticini on our own block in Queens. This storefront might look familiar, it's been in lots of movies and TV shows, but I go for the sausage and the rice balls. On the way back, you can buy some pickles right on the sidewalk, now tell me where else you'll see this?

I took my little camera and had my iphone too, so I could snap discrete photos of women on the street who were wearing jewelry that I thought was interesting. It's so nice to see a group of french women on the street, waiting for their tour bus, and check out what they've got on. Of course, not everybody likes being photographed, so I have to be careful. The New Yorkers don't mind, and unlike the people in some foreign lands who ask for money after you've taken their picture, our people smile and pose for you!

Every now and then, I'll see an earring from robertachiarella.com, and that always is a treat! There was an elegant lady on the corner of Bleeker Street today who seemed to be wearing my Brava Bib Statement Necklace, but the traffic light changed and she disappeared before I could cross the street.

Then I saw this artist, and he was quite involved in his work to see me and my camera. He might be the last of the Greenwich Village street artists. When we were kids, there were summer weekends devoted to art festivals on these streets, with countless artists showing their stuff. My father, who was a painter and sculptor, would take us and walk the streets till we were exhausted.

He'd always buy a painting or two, and if it was an amateur artist, he'd put it on HIS easel when we got home and set about 'improving' the painting.  We've got a couple hanging on the walls to this day, dad was never satisfied with the improvements, and was constantly re-painting a shadow or the color of the sky on his acquisitions. They don't have these festivals any more, and it's too bad. I guess if they had one for digital pics I could enter the shots I've posted here, so tourists could take home a bit of Roberta's Manhattan. Ciao!

you better watch out

You better not cry

Better not pout I'm telling you why

Santa Claus is coming to town

He's making a list And checking it twice;

Gonna find out Who's naughty and nice

Santa Claus is coming to town

It's finally beginning to feel like christmas. I heard this song while waiting to buy something at the grand central station holiday fair, a shopping experience that they open just for the holidays. There are some folks selling things you can't normally buy in new york (imagine that!) so I always visit this fair. Grand Central Station has set up a laser light show that stops traffic, projecting a great display on to the ceiling of the station. I missed it by 5 minutes, drat!

It's cold and rainy, but while I was out I decided to walk over to the new ice skating rink that's opened behind the New York Public Library. It was filled with happy skaters who are much braver than I am when it comes to spending this much time outdoors in the freezing cold!

Even though we're all worried about the economy, there are crowds in the stores and lots of people are shopping. Lord & Taylor had lots of crowds, and who wouldn't want to be there- they have a giant snow globe in the window. How cool is that? Times square was bustling, the tourists love it here and it's not hard to see why- it's non-stop action.

Of course, the main attraction is Rockefeller Center with the best tree in the city. It's wall-to-wall people, so I passed up the opportunity to visit the tree now that it is lit. I came by right before the tree lighting to check out the Swarovski booth, they supply the giant crystal star at the very top of the tree, and sell replicas and other crystals in this booth. As someone who works with their crystals, I was presented with a star ornament, as a token of thanks for all the work we did together this year. I decided to wear it as a necklace because I am so proud that they gave it to me. It's a bit heavy, and will probably end up on my christmas tree as an ornament, just like it's giant cousin is on top of this beautiful tree now all lit up at Rockefeller center.
We'll put up our tree this weekend, and decorate it with our family heirloom ornaments and a couple of new ones. There will certainly be room on the tree for my swarovski star, it can take the place of the NY Mets christmas ball that is being demoted to the back this year. Then, next week, after we've shipped most of our customers holiday orders I can go and do a bit of shopping myself. ciao !