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Omakase, a ridiculously good $14 toner, and the city that has redefined our perspective on spring.

Courtesy of Gabie Deitos, Khruangbin and Leon Bridges, Byoma, CB2, and Laney Crowell

Hello, hello! Bonjour from our office. (Yes, Paris is still very much on our mind)

March was pure madness—in the most glamorous way possible. We traveled to London, Paris (did we mention that?), and all over New York City, searching for the best, most delicious matcha, and taking in the (good, sparkling, inspiring) energy around us. Safe to say, our cups are full.

We do mean that in the literal sense: Matcha and coffee are our pick-me-ups in the morning… and oftentimes in the afternoon, too. If you’re in Brooklyn, our director of community Lauren Lauigan recommends Yves Coffee Shop in Bed-Stuy; Serene Hersh, our office manager, is loyal to her neighborhood spot September, where she has been sipping strawberry matcha lattes.

And figuratively: These past few weekends recharged us—strolling through cozy, niche art bookstores (Gloria Zingales, editor, senior manager, stumbled into Dashwood Books the other week); catching indie films in a quaint theater (like Film Forum—where Lauigan recommends grabbing an iced matcha and some banana bread while catching Play It as It Lays, the Joan Didion adaptation); going to The New York Philharmonic's Very Young People’s Concert at Lincoln Center (“The show is 30 minutes and makes for an idyllic Saturday afternoon in the city if you have little kids,” says Desiree Kaplowitz, VP of public relations); and just being outside, soaking up the sunshine with a cocktail in hand at our favorite outdoor spots. “It will be gorgeous in the next couple of weeks when cherry blossom season starts and you can walk through McCarren Park on the way to (1) Bernie's,” says Gabie Deitos, senior marketing manager.

Happy hour at Bernie’s

Speaking of indulgences, we did manage to snag a res at Ito, an omakase sushi restaurant in Tribeca. It’s notoriously hard to get into, with just two seatings per night, and its entrance is as unassuming as they come. But if you find your way there, “it’s the perfect spot for a special occasion,” says our founder Laney Crowell. We’d say the same about The Studio at Clemente Bar, a relatively new spot inside Eleven Madison Park where five plant-based courses are paired with craft cocktails that are works of edible art. (Important note: It’s not stuffy in the slightest!)

There’s something about drawn out, intentional meals that hit differently—especially when everything else in the city is go, go, go.

This feeling of slowing down is exactly what we soaked up in (5) Paris. There’s a certain ease to the beauty there—seriously, everything is so deliberately beautiful—it's in the way the locals move, talk, and just exist. We're very inspired as we ease into spring. And we’ve taken a cue from Parisians' soft blush application (ultra delicate, pink swaths—see Crowell doing just that with SuperSuede™ here). It’s a fresh change.

Paris in March

Back in the office, we’ve been reflecting on all of this—and infusing a sense of lightness and effortlessness (though it still requires effort) into upcoming projects. The soundtrack to our days? Khruangbin and Leon Bridges ((2)Texas Sun is on repeat), and Michael Kiwanuka’s Cold Little Heart. And while we are craving French pastries, we’re also obsessed with New York’s finest: Patrick Williams, our coordinator of special projects and community, insists Rigor Hill Market’s oatmeal cookie is the best in the city. (Do we need a dedicated post on our favorite cookies in the city?)

Courtesy of Rigor Hill Market

Another reflection: “Nothing haunts you like the vintage you didn't buy,” says Zingales. She speaks from experience after skipping out on the perfectly cropped vintage flight jacket from Front General Store. “Every morning I'm like, ‘Wow! that jacket would've looked cute with THIS outfit too!’” Le sigh…

We may have missed out on some vintage treasures, but retail therapy didn’t completely elude us: Andrea Bowers, director of marketing, splurged on a new, rippled marble (4) coffee table bowl from CB2, and Hersh stocked up on (3) Byoma Milky Toner. “ It's so hydrating and really saved my skin this winter.” And it’s only $14. Also on our top shelf at the moment: Rōz Santa Lucia Hair Oil (Williams says it’s made his curls super soft).

Courtesy of CB2

Looking forward to this weekend (hello, 77 degrees and sunshine!), we will be living for the fresh air. What are your plans? Share with us in the comments—we’d love to hear about it!

Until next time,

Xoxo

Team Saie