New Majestic Lapidary
Very skilled jewelry repair in the Diamond District. Fixed two lapis rings with broken stones - cut, polished, and set a replacement for one with a broken piece from the other! Full restoration of each piece at a reasonable price and quick turnaround. Recommended by another vendor within the building for this niche kind of job.
Barnaby Black Surfer Soap
Discovered at the Locavore Variety Store this summer, which stocks products made within 100 miles of NYC. This one comes from Sayville on Long Island, smells fantastic, and rinses off saltwater gently. The bottle reads "made for sun, salt, and sand lovers" <3
Perennial plants on sale in the fall
I became a gardener around the same time that writer Caity Weaver shared a beautiful obituary online for her mom Maureen Brennan-Weaver. Its closing paragraph included a tip that's become a yearly bedrock for how I make my ambitious garden dreams come true: "In lieu of sending flowers, please plant a little something in her memory. Please also be aware (in her memory) that garden centers mark perennials down to unbelievable prices in the fall."
Key Auto Center in Greenpoint, Brooklyn
Owner Bruce has been my go-to mechanic for years, but I really became a customer for life a few months ago when my catalytic converter was stolen from under my car. It was a shocking vandalism, the car was inoperable, and I was upset. I had it towed to Key Auto and Bruce talked me through all the options, including an emissions compliance difference in my state of registration that could save me significant money in the repair. He offered to order a part to his home in another state to reduce my costs. Salt of the earth guy, honest and fair and works fast too.
