Jellio: Capturing Childhood Through Design

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Banana split chaise lounges? Gummy bear chandeliers? Anything goes at Jellio

By Sarah Emily Gilbert

They say that some people never grow up, but in the case of Mario Marsicano of Jellio, his desire to hold on to his childhood has worked in his favor. For decades, the New York native collected antique toys, but instead of stashing them in boxes, he started having glass cubes made that both put the toys on display and acted as furniture. From coffee tables to end tables, Marsicano’s home became like a functional toy museum. But, what started out as a hobby turned into a business idea when Marsicano’s friends started asking him to build furniture for them. more

Celebrity Baker Erin McKenna’s 10 Favorite Things

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From Estee Lauder perfume to powdered peanut butter, the celebrity baker’s got it covered in her 10 favorite things

By Sarah Emily Gilbert

Photo Credit: Mackenzie Stroh

When it comes to good taste, Erin McKenna is an expert. Her bakery - appropriately named Erin McKenna’s Bakery - has gained international recognition for its delicious treats that happen to be gluten free, vegan, and kosher. With brick and mortar locations in NYC, LA, and Orlando, and an online store that ships treats anywhere in the United States, McKenna’s bakery is spreading its goodness across America. Not only is McKenna the authority on healthy treats, but she’s also a connoisseur in beauty products, shoes, and even baby strollers. Find out all of the things this tastemaker cannot live without in her list of 10 favorite things. more

World Ballet Day 2015

It’s day #2 of the second annual World Ballet Day, and that means live streaming of rehearsals, classes, and interviews with dancers and artistic staff of England’s Royal Ballet, the National Ballet of Canada, the San Francisco Ballet, and Russia’s Bolshoi Ballet (the Australian Ballet streamed on September 30). Don’t worry if you miss the live events — they are available for viewing later. In addition to the live streaming, there are pre-recorded sequences from several other ballet troupes including American Ballet Theatre, the Boston Ballet, Houston Ballet, Hamburg Ballet, and many more. In honor of World Ballet Day, we found the best of ballet on Instagram. more

Open House New York 2015

On October 17-18, New York City’s Most Important Buildings Open Their Doors to the Public

By Sarah Emily Gilbert

On Saturday and Sunday, October 17-18, Open House New York (OHNY) presents the 2015 Open House New York Weekend, an open invitation to the public to discover, explore, and experience some of the most significant buildings across the five boroughs of New York City. A highly anticipated NYC tradition, OHNY Weekend celebrates architecture and urban design by opening the doors to hundreds of sites each year, ranging from the historic to the contemporary, for tours and talks. more

Fit For Each Other

From high school prom dates to international fitness gurus, homegrown husband and wife team Fred Devito and Elisabeth Halfpapp reveal their secrets to love, fulfillment, and of course, fitness

By Sarah Emily Gilbert

The couple that plays together really does stay together. Husband and wife team and Hamilton, New Jersey natives, Fred Devito and Elisabeth (Lis) Halfpapp have managed to transform their work into play as vice presidents and founding members of Exhale Spa and co-creators of the workout routine, Core Fusion. While Fred and Lis’s version of play might include planking, lunging, and weight lifting, it’s certainly kept their relationship strong—32 years strong to be exact. more

A Well-Designed Life: Part I

WD 2 Cowboy

A Well-Designed Life: Part II

WD 3 Bird

A Well-Designed Life: Part III

WD 4 Charleston

A Well-Designed Life: Part IV

WD 5 Knocker

Workout to Go

WD 1 Workout

Eram Siddiqui’s 10 Favorite Things

The fashion-forward CEO and founder of Hudson + Bleecker shares the ten things she cannot live without

By Sarah Emily Gilbert

Eram Siddiqui understands women on the go. A world traveler and fashion guru, Siddiqui has transformed her passions into the esteemed luxury travel accessory brand, Hudson + Bleecker. From shoe bags to jewelry organizers, Hudson + Bleecker ‘s curated collection covers every need of the modern traveling woman. Each piece features Hudson + Bleecker’s signature patterns and prints that are inspired by Siddiqui’s global travels. When this business-savvy designer isn’t conceiving her next accessory, she can be found enjoying fall foliage, riding her bike, or indulging in another one of her favorite things. more

Urban Agenda’s Guide to NYC Antique Shops

It's out with the old and in with the new at these eclectic NYC antique shops 

By Sarah Emily Gilbert

Beneath the modern skyscrapers and tech-savvy billboards of New York City, there is a hub of antique shops reclaiming New York's storied history. From quirky objects to treasured finds, these antique shops are full of nostalgic items awaiting their next owner. Below, Urban Agenda lists some of the best antique shops in Manhattan.

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Dwell on Design New York City 2015

Manhattan’s largest design event, Dwell on Design returns to NYC this October

By Sarah Emily Gilbert

From October 2-4, the Skylight Clarkson Square in West SoHo will be overtaken by Dwell on Design New York, curated by the editors of Dwell magazine. With more than 35 onstage presentations, attendees have the opportunity to experience a summit-like discussion about architecture and design’s role in our modern world. more

Found My Animal

See how the Brooklyn-based brand is creating awareness for rescue animals (and fashion-forward pooches) one leash at a time

By Sarah Emily Gilbert

Image Courtesy of Found My Animal on Instagram 

Some things are meant to be, just ask Bethany Obrecht and Anna Conway, cofounders of the pet accessory brand Found My Animal. In 2006, Obrecht and Conway ran into each other while walking their rescue Chihuahuas who were both named Walter. As if that wasn’t enough of a sign, the two also went to art school and were looking to use their craft in order to help animals. Thanks to Obrecht and Conway’s eye for design (and love for all things named Walter), they were able to launch Found My Animal. more

Clio Newton

“I have known for as long as I can remember that I was going to be an artist.”

By Sarah Emily Gilbert

Images courtesy of Clio Newton

While most 26 year olds are still trying to decide their longtime careers, Clio Newton has had it figured out since she was a little girl. She would be an artist.

Newton’s self-assuredness came as a result of her art-filled childhood in Madison, Connecticut. Her dad, a steel sculptor, and her mother, a farmer and photographer, would have Newton shadow them as they worked on their designated projects. more

Rebecca Louise Law: Floral Phenom

See how the British artist’s inspiration comes into full bloom

By Sarah Emily Gilbert

There’s nothing more eye-catching than a vibrant bouquet of flowers – except, of course, when there’s over 16,000 flowers of 14 different species hanging from the ceiling of an entire room. Just ask British artist Rebecca Louise Law, the woman behind the breathtaking “Flowers Outside: In Encased” exhibit that was featured in the lobby of the Viacom headquarters in NYC this past January. more

Susana Simonpietri of Chango & Co.

PortraitAcclaimed owner of Chango & Co. interior design firm, Susana Simonpietri, guides Urban Agenda NYC through some of her most striking creations

By Sarah Emily Gilbert

When your past projects include collaborations on residential interiors for Lenny Kravtiz, P.Diddy, and Damon Dash, you know you have made a name for yourself. However, when Susana Simonpietri would sit in the aisle of an England bookstore thumbing through interior design and architecture books (when she should’ve been buying novels for her B.A. in comparative literature), Simonpietri had no idea she would start the esteemed NYC interior design firm, Chango & Co.

A graduate of the Pratt Institute with a Masters degree in Interior Design and Architecture, Simonpietri is not only a dexterous designer, but also a literary maven. Before finding her niche in interior design, Simonpietri received a bachelor’s degree in comparative literature from the University of Puerto Rico, which included studies at La Sorbonne, Paris and the University of Warwick, England.  more

Nail It This Fall With Smith & Cult Nailed Lacquer

Dineh Mohajer of Smith & Cult gives us an insider look at Fall 2015 nail trends

By Sarah Emily Gilbert

Whether you’re feeling pretty in pink or beautiful in black, Smith & Cult Nailed Lacquer has you – and your nails - covered. This lux polish comes in a diverse array of hues that are made with a 5-free, non-toxic formula that gives your nails a bold, gel-manicure-like finish. Co-founded by beauty maven Dineh Mohajer, Smith & Cult nail polish is always featuring the latest and greatest in nail fashion. Below, the beauty junkie herself shares her go-to nail trends for fall - and her fabulously witty prose - with Urban Agenda NYC. more

Buly 1803: A Parisian Apothecary

By Taylor Smith

Images courtesy of Buly 1803

In 2014, the artist Ramdane Touhami and his wife Victoire de Taillac revived the French apothecary and dispensary, Bully, that opened in 1787. This 19th century perfurmery was founded by Jean-Vincent Bully who had great success with his “Vinaigre de Toilette.” Bully provided the leading fragrances for France’s 19th century ladies and gentlemen and eventually patented the “Vinaigre de Bully," an aromatic lotion meant to soothe the skin and preserve youthfulness.  Bully eventually served as the inspiration behind the character César Birotteau written by Balzac. more

Deborah French Designs

Web 1The internationally acclaimed interior designer gives Urban Agenda an inside look at some of her most representative designs

By Sarah Emily Gilbert

Having Deborah French give you the background on the products in her interior designs is like getting a tour of the world. From Uzbekistani pillows to a Swedish farm chair, the pieces used in French’s interiors are steeped in cultural history.

Perhaps, it’s French’s own history that connects her to these pieces. After receiving her BFA from Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), her MFA from the University of Illinois, and completing her final year of graduate work at the Whitney Museum’s Independent Study Program, French went on to become the Senior Designer at Dineen Nealy Architects. Immediately recognized for her artistic eye, French became the Director of Store Development at Polo Ralph Lauren, where she was responsible for the design of some of the brand’s most important freestanding stores through out the globe, including their largest shop in Omotesando, Tokyo. She was then recruited by the internationally recognized Ian Schrager Company to be the Executive Vice President of Interior Design for their project with the J.W. Marriott luxury hotel brand.  more

Editor’s Pick: Aidan Gray

Weekly home and design picks from our Editor, Lynn Adams Smith

Home goods from Aidan Gray

Founded in 2003, Aidan Gray a leading brand in home furnishings, home decor and accessories, lighting, chandeliers and antique reproductions. The Texas-based company represents a love for interiors, design, and authentic pieces that exude “European Grandeur.” more

Editor’s Pick

Weekly home and design picks from our Editor, Lynn Adams Smith

Lighting by Jamie Young Co. 

In May of 1997 Jamie Young Jeter and David Jeter, both artists with a passion for travel, took a day trip to Mexico, where they filled their car with interesting gardening pots they discovered in a roadside shop. more

India Hicks: Island Style

Escape to paradise with the fashion guru’s newest book on island living. 

By Sarah Emily Gilbert

Caribbean flair collides with British sensibility in India Hicks' third and newest tome, India Hicks: Island Style. A miscellany of breathtaking personal and professional photographs, design tips, and personal advice, Island Style acts as a bona fide scrapbook of Hicks’ home life. Readers are thrown into the colorful and free-spirited world of her Hibiscus Hill home in the Bahamas where she lives with her designer husband, four children, and fostered Bahamian son. more

The Rise of Sneaker Culture

The Brooklyn Museum’s newest exhibition is a sneakerhead’s dreamland

By Sarah Emily Gilbert

We’ve all heard of coin collectors, stamp collectors, and even rock collectors, but what about sneaker collectors? Known as “sneakerheads,” these connoisseurs live for limited edition, rare, or exclusive sneakers. And since July 10, they’ve been swarming to Brooklyn Museum’s newest exhibition, The Rise of Sneaker Culture.  more

Fashion Agenda by Karl Lagerfeld: 2016

By Sarah Emily Gilbert

Any man whose cat alone has their own Twitter account with 46,000 fans deserves to be heard, especially when his name is Karl Lagerfeld. The famed fashion designer known for his enigmatic personality, signature black sunglasses, and endless talent has released his 2016 Fashion Agenda edited by Patrick Mauriès and Jean-Christophe Napias. more

Editor’s Pick

Weekly home and design picks from our Editor, Lynn Adams Smith

Rugs by Madeline Weinrib more

Dressed for the Part

Eliza J Designer, Dana Greechan, gives us an inside look at dress design

By Sarah Emily Gilbert

There’s nothing quite like putting on the perfect dress. Aside from making you want to belt out, “I Feel Pretty” louder than Maria from West Side Story, a well-fitting dress can make a woman feel feminine, fabulous, and fearless. For Associate Designer of Eliza J, Dana Greechan, the “dress-rush” is even more pronounced. Not only does Greechan get to spend her days designing beautiful Eliza J Dresses that are sold to the likes of Nordstrom, Lord and Taylor, and Von Maur, but she also gets to experience others wearing her designs. And for a woman who admits that she’s “been obsessed with fashion since [she] can remember,” seeing a chic woman wearing her dress designs on the street of NYC is overwhelming. more

Top 10 Fashion Essentials for Summer 2015

 Urban Agenda NYC selected our top fashion picks to keep you stylish all summer long

By Sarah Emily Gilbert

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Savvy Shopping: Daniel Silverstein Sample Sale, June 26

Daniel Silverstein Sample Sale

Discounts on women's apparel more

Editor’s Pick

Weekly home and design picks from our Editor, Lynn Adams Smith

Home Furnishings by Missoni Home

 more