It was cold in Amsterdam this past February. The temperatures dropped. Then it snowed, a lot. The Westerpark was beautiful. And it was even cold enough that the canals froze over and we were able to skate on them. It was a wonderfully wintery February. Wishing for another one in 2013!
R E S T O R E D is a wonderful little shop on the Haarlemmerdijk in the center of Amsterdam (Haarlemmerdijk 39). “Restored is all about beauty, balance and originality. We believe in an honest approach and a sincere interest in people and products.” A unique collection of products are sold here, ranging from gold feather rings to Herschel Supply Co. backpacks to plaid blankets by Mae Engelgeer and a great selection of magazines including Anthology, Frankie and Smith Journal.
Be sure to take check out this round up of great shops, cafes and restaurants on the Haarlemmerdijk and Haarlemmerstraat before you head that way!
It’s been a while since I’ve posted my weekly Amsterdam Insight posts. The months of March, April and May were really busy but things are finally slowing down now. I will now spend more time at work and dedicate my free time to Amsterdam Insights. So here we go! This week in Amsterdam…
Click for more Amsterdam Insights, published every Wednesday, and here for previous Coming Up posts.
Brunch was an institution in Montreal, a weekend rite of passage, the perfect start to a slow morning or a worthy celebration after a night out. The excitement of going out for a delicious brunch, whether it be eggs & bacon or french toast or pancakes, never failed me. And there were so many great places in Montreal including Le Vieux St. Laurent, L’Avenue, Beauty’s and Bagel Etc (read more in my Montreal Eats roundup). I was so excited to finally try G&T’s really, really nice place (Goudsbloemstraat 91) in the heart of the Jordaan…
And turns out the owners are Canadian, and one even attended McGill University… And graduated just a year before I started my first year! Everything about G&T’s was perfect. The ex-brown cafe in the Jordaan has been transformed into a comfy living room with subtle trinkets and treasures…
And their brunch menu… From Breakfast Burritos to their famous Eggs Benedict and (oh-so Canadian) Challah French Toast, there’s something for everyone. And reminiscing my Montreal brunch days, I opted for the Challah French Toast topped with bananas and cinnamon sugar. Oh, they didn’t disappoint.
Be sure to make a reservation online for weekend brunch, from 11am to 4pm on Saturdays and Sundays. G&T’s also serves cocktails (a Bloody Mary to go with your Eggs Benedict, maybe?) and hosts movie nights, so be sure to check their agenda for weekly events. G&T’s really, really nice place can be found on Goudsbloemstraat 91.
A few photographs in pink to celebrate my mother’s birthday! Happy Birthday to you! Photographs were taken on the Haarlemmerdijk (1&2), at Two For Joy Coffee Roasters (Haarlemmerdijk 182; see previous post) where I tried their new Iced Chai Latte and read the latest issue of The Gentlewoman (3), at the LIKESTATIONERY Pop-Up store at the Strawberryblonde design studio (Prinsenstraat 24) (4) and at the Noordermarkt, where I bought these beauties.
This weekend… A quiet Friday morning // with this song on repeat // finally making it over to the Oude Kerk (see photo) for the World Press Photo 2012 Exhibition (until 17 June) // biking home on the Haarlemmerstraat/Haarlemmerdijk and popping into the recently opened store without a home. (Haarlemmerstraat 26), the wonderful concept store Restored (Haarlemmerdijk 39) and the only and only Two For Joy Coffee Roasters (Haarlemmerdijk 182; see previous post) to try their new Iced Chai Latte // finally making it to the EYE Film Institute (see views here and here) on the northern banks of the IJ river to see the Wes Anderson’s latest film, Moonrise Kingdom (watch the trailer or read the review) on Friday evening // a perfect brunch at G&T’s really, really nice place (Goudsbloemstraat 91) with a dear friend on Saturday morning // before heading to the LIKESTATIONERY Pop-Up store on the Prinsenstraat 24 (LIKESTATIONERY is the online store of design-studio Strawberryblonde) and the Noordermarkt, where I bought these beauties // a quiet Saturday evening // a visit to de Appel Arts Centre (Prins Hendrikkade 142) at their new location for the new exhibition Topsy Turvy, Long live the upside-down world! (read more about the installation featured above) // warming up with hot chocolate at Brood Bar (Kloveniersburgwal 18) // before meeting an old friend from high school at Cafe van Zuylen (Torensteeg 4-8; love this corner) // and ending the day with this movie. Happy Monday!
This weekend… A stop by Brouwerij ‘t IJ on Friday afternoon // followed by a picnic in the Oosterpark until late in the evening (previous Oosterpark picnic) // breakfast on the roof on Saturday morning // lunch with my parents before a preview of the newly renovated building of the Stedelijk Museum, designed by Mels Crouwel of Benthem Crouwel (the museum will finally open its doors on Sunday 23 September!) // more afternoon rooftop hangouts // another picnic in Vondelpark for the last of the day’s sun // before heading to Melkweg (Lijnbaansgracht 234) to see Beach House, the dreamy pop duo of French-born Victoria Legrand and Baltimore native Alex Scally, perform their latest album, Bloom (an incredible show!) // a lazy Sunday morning/afternoon spent, again, on the roof // headed home on Sunday afternoon for a dinner with my grandparents // making the most of the long-weekend by visiting The New York Times Magazine Photographs exhibition at Foam (Keizersgracht 609) in its last days (watch this video of director of the magazine and curator of the exhibition, Kathy Ryan) // a walk down the Utrechtsestraat before stopping by Frozz (Utrechtsestraat 27; see previous post) and sitting along the Keizersgracht watching the boats (and swans!) go by…
A few Amsterdam discoveries in De Pijp… A coffee and slice of carrot cake at corner cafe Kofi-T (Ferdinand Bolstraat 149) across from Inkt en Olie (Ferdinand Bolstraat 151; they sell the best postcards!) // the shops Cotton Cake (1e van der Helststraat 76), Charlie + Mary (Gerard Doustraat 84) and Zublim (Gerard Doustraat 86) // sampling delicious macarons at the recently opened Poptasi Pastry // grabbing a delicious fresh sandwich at Foodware (1e van der Helststraat 63) // and finding a park bench in the neighboring Saphartipark.
