Hearth Too. NYC

This is a second version of Hearth. The earlier one was much more simplistic; and this one catches the essence of the restaurant more richly than the 'beginner' version [I think it's the chimney that does it...]. I'm particularly proud of the way the flame image from the card continue across the roof and canopy. Oh, Joy!

Hearth is on the north western? edge of the East village [not sure exactly where the village starts and stops]. The wine list is excellent and the food is great. Rustic, but refined, if you know what I mean. This place means 'comfort food' to us, so we've trudged there in ankle-deep snow, on bitterly cold nights, for some good hospitality and warming food.

c. 2005

Bluehill. New York

A-H-H-H-H! Bluehill at Stone Barns!!!! I cannot recommend this place heartily enough. It is just above New York City, along the Hudson River, just outside Tarrytown. Totally worth the drive out of the city. Some years back, Dan Barber, the chef at Bluehill Restaurant in the city cut a deal with David Rockefeller to turn his family estate into a working organic farm with a restaurant and educational center. and it is worth every penny of the tens of millions of dollars they spent in making it operable and beautiful. Its worth the trip just for the stonework, let alone the beautiful wood beams and wonderful lighting.

Then, there is the food. OMG!!!!! Elegant, imaginative, fresh, beautiful food! and a great wine list....


If you have been paying attention, you will remember this card was used to make the Virginia cabin, some posts back. I admitted in that posting, I believe, that I had borrowed the cardstock because it looked like stacked logs. Well, now you can see the *real* restaurants representation. I may have to make another one or two...I want to make the grouping of buildings around a stone courtyard which you walk through on the way from the valet parking point to the restaurant...you get a peek into several other structures...must go up there for one of the tours or classes....

c. 2004

Prune. New York City

This is one of the best restaurants in NYC, in the USA....Tiny place in the East Village, owned by a woman chef whose childhood nickname was Prune. Excellent food, very vibrant, comfortable atmosphere. Always crowded and hectic, but somehow you don't mind people jostling your elbow getting to their table or gazing at the food on your plate while they look over the menu.

The restaurant is in the ground floor of one of the ubiquitous apartment buildings that border all the sidewalks in Manhattan. I don't know it there is really a skylight on the back side of the roof, but it seemed like there oughta be. Maybe because Prune somehow makes you think of a Parisian bistro/brasserie...might be the tall skinny windows and the old mirrors and woodwork inside.

They have a great Sunday brunch; and the roasted fish on the dinner menu is melt-in-your-mouth good. Always interesting side dishes.

c. 2005

Morimoto. Philadelphia

I love this tinybuilding! I am proud of how much it resembles the actual restaurant. Go to the morimoto link and see what I mean. It was difficult to build....curved roof/ceiling...tiny benches...This, obviously, took several business cards, breaking one of the 'rules'; but, it's worth it to have the name down each side and the address between the 'slots' in the back wall.


In the restaurant one of the designer's 'gimmicks' is to have the plastic furniture units change colors through embedded colored lights. I decided not to try that.....kinda tacky, anyway...

Sushi here is outstanding. Beautifully presented, of course. And imaginative.

c. 2002

Frame Eleven. New York City and Zurich

This tinybuilding was made from a couple business cards for Darko Karas' motion graphics company in NYC. Darko is Jane's partner-in-crime-and-love.

I tried to do the card's graphics justice by placing and cutting the windows and doors in this tinybuilding at interesting locations and with unusual compositions-for windows, at least...I let the lines on the card dictate the positions and sizes of the cuts. Nice, huh?

c. 2006

Toblerone Swiss Chalet. New York City

This is another tinybuilding from Jane's SDOTY Party- the one with the Swiss theme- for party favors.

Cute little cabin in a snow-filled valley, waiting for the skiers to return for rosti and schuemli pfluemli. They can sit on the front deck and put their feet up on the railing....Then maybe some chocolate for dessert....

I love this little cabin...Makes me very happy to look at it.

c. 2005

Lupa. New York City

Lupa is one of Mario Batali's restaurants. My favorite, in fact. It has the feel of a 'neighborhood hangout' place, but with very good food. Not unlike Delfina in San Francisco [although, Delfina's food is even better I think].

It is particularly pleasant to eat at the bar, even with all the foot traffic and bustle. The energy level is great. Pasta, yummy roasted artichokes, Prosecco....We have had lots of good meals there. Makes you feel like a New York Insider to be there, somehow.

The actual building is not shaped like this Lupa 'diner'. But the atmosphere and attitude is sorta Italian Diner, I thought. Hence-the Lupa Diner.

c. 2002