Vittoria Coffee | Fashion Series

Fashion Series Cups, Vittoria Coffee

For those of you who have read my "I Eat | Flinders Lane" post, you'll remember that I mentioned having brunch with someone who works in the coffee industry, that being Vittoria Coffee. She was so sweet, it kind of felt like reconnecting with a friend, and at the end of our meeting she gave me these paper cups, that Vittoria designed for fashion week, to take home. I knew that I had to make a post about them as soon as I could.

So, Vittoria is an Australian based, coffee product manufacturing company, founded in Sydney in 1947. Having over fifty years of experience in this industry, they're currently "Australia's #1 pure coffee brand." They actually distribute to quite a few places here in NYC, including Flinders Lane, and they definitely don't disappoint.

If you'd like to read more about them, and what they do, you can go visit they're very nicely designed website here: http://www.vittoriacoffee.com/

See more photos, and read more about these paper cups, after the jump!

Cafes | Bee's Knees Baking Co.

Bee's Knees Baking Co., Kips Bay, NYC.

I actually stumbled upon this place, because some of my friends from Baruch College visit here often, seeing as it's nearby, and there's also free wifi. I was waiting for one of them to get out of school, just to hang out for a little while, and ended up here as I was walking around.

Although majority of the customers in this location are students working (or trying to work) on their laptops, I found that it was still possible for someone like me, who's casually walking in just to sit down and relax, to find a space to fit in. It's a cute little place to visit, student or not, and it's sort of like a hideaway from the fast-paced sidewalk that, sometimes, gets a little overwhelming.

See more photos and read more about my experience, after the jump!

Cafes | Nourish Kitchen + Table

Nourish Kitchen + Table, West Village, NYC.

I actually found this place while leaving Press Tea one day, and as I was walking around with a friend, I was writing down a few places that caught my eye to visit one day; this was one of them. The more you explore the West Village, the more you find these lovely little places everywhere to experience and see what they offer.

I noticed that this place had more customer turnover as a take-away service, But, I wanted to see what it would be like sitting in and taking in the place on my first visit.

See more photos and read more about my experience, after the jump!

Cafes | Greecologies

Greecologies, Little Italy, NYC.

In my last post, I mentioned how I love when a cafe has nice open windows to let in the natural light, and this place has that, amongst other things.This cafe is in an area that houses a whole bunch of nice places, and although they don't have a huge, colourful sign that tells you where it is, it does not disappoint once you walk inside.

I think it's a place worth looking for.

See more photos and read more about my experience, after the jump!

Afternoons

Cafe la Cerra, Murray Hill, NYC.

It's finally starting to get warmer, which means a lot more afternoon light, iced drinks, and outdoor seating areas. Also, those are not my sunglasses, but I should get a pair real soon.

I absolutely love when a cafe has really open spaced windows, like this place, to let all the natural light in. It's not only great for photos, but also to just naturally take in the warmth of life that the sun gives off. As someone who prefers being indoors, these open spaced windows are great because the sunlight is not as intense as it would be if I were to stand outside. It's already mid-April, and summer is just around the corner, so I'm going to treasure this nice breezy weather while I can, and pray for cool summer nights.

I've been seeing flowers budding and blooming all over the place as I casually walk around the city, and I love it so much. Even the trees near my house are producing colour.

If you ever feel the weight of life coming back down again, step outside and get some fresh air. There's a lot out there, and new experiences to be had.

Photo by Kyle.

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Cafes | Press Tea - Food Ver.

Press Tea, West Village, NYC.

It took a bit of time for me to have this up, but here it is. When I visited Press Tea they let me sample some of the things they offer there, and they really didn't disappoint!

Like I wrote in my last post about this place, they make everything in house, and all of their pastries/baked goods are "mostly organic" as it says on the labels.

See more photos and read about what I had after the jump!

Connecting

Third Rail Coffee, East Village, NYC.

Sometimes you need to sit down and just collect yourself.

It's been awhile, and I've missed posting my "photo diary" entries. The passed few days after the Instameets, I've been meeting other Instagrammers and have been continuing the networking and such. People are so interesting and intriguing, how they all have their own stories, own habits, and even their own styles of taking photos. Socializing, and actively trying to meet with people, is not usually what I do, but I've been trying to do it more often, while balancing having my alone time at home.

Connecting with individuals, as an introvert, is such an important thing that a lot of people usually look passed. But we know when there's something there, and for myself, the desire to go deeper into that, rises.

As much as I am tired, I'm excited to meet other people and creatives who resonate with me. There's this mild adrenaline rush when things click between people, and that's what keeps me going and helps motivate me. Don't settle for people who just bring you and your creativity down.

Photo by Kyle.

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#WWIM11 - West Village

Chalait, West Village, NYC.

Today I woke up at an absurd time, for an app. But not just any app, the app that's been a major influence in social media, and the app that we're always on, majority of the day. And I woke up to meet and hang out with some people that are a part of this app's community.

Overtime, Instagram has become more than just a social media app to me. It's become this beautiful place where you get to grow as a person, not just by yourself, but with other people as well, as a community. It's become this personal space for me to go back to, to relive the great moments I've had whenever I'm feeling down, or to relearn things I've forgotten about within my captions. I've been meeting more people, and making valuable friendships I never thought I'd make, all because of this wonderful app.

The majority of this meetup consisted of walking around a bit of the West Village, exploring, taking photos, and sometimes pretending to be tourists, all while networking and just talking casually with eachother. It was almost as if distant relatives all gathered together, and got the opportunity to spend time together and reconnect. I also realized that this type of setting was a lot more intimate than usual InstaMeets. But it was a great preparation, especially since I'm going to another InstaMeet tomorrow as well, where I'm anticipating it to be full of people. Everywhere. As someone who has serious social anxiety, just the idea of it is scaring the living hell out of me. But at the end of the day, I have to remind myself that everyone has gathered for one sole reason: to connect, and to experience what this community is like.

If you aren't following me already, you can head over to @cafechild on Instagram and do so! And to see some more photos of the meetup, search the hashtag #WWIM11WestVillage! I hope to see some of you guys at tomorrow's meetup in Bushwick; come along if you can!

(WWIM11 - World Wide InstaMeet 11).

Photo by Kyle.

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Cafes | Press Tea

Press Tea, West Village, NYC.

Earlier in the week, I stopped by Press Tea to visit, and was able to sample a lot of what they had to offer. In an area that has many a cafe, this place doesn't fade into the background once you walk inside. From the comfortable seating, to the unique products they have to offer, this will be a place that I come back to time and again.

I had heard of this place before from friends, but never got a chance to check it out until now.

See more photos and read more about my experience, after the jump!

Anxiety

Cafe de Cupping, Flushing, NYC.

Thinking about your life and your future puts you in a really vulnerable place. But it's a place we have to go to sooner or later. Often when I'm just at home with nothing to do for the day, I end up thinking a lot, sometimes too much. I get anxious about my life decisions, or what I'm going to be doing later on. It makes me unnecessarily nervous, and frankly just freaks me out. Because at the end of the day, I don't really worry too much about things, but in the moment I start having an existential crisis.

Many people don't know, but I struggle with social and general anxiety, quite a lot. In this particular situation, I've been comparing how my life is going to that of others who are fairly successful, or look like they "have it all together." I know as well as anyone that everybody has their own struggles, and not everyone's life is going to look or go the same. But, it's a human, natural response to look at your own life and wonder what you're doing.

I've been coming to the realization that this life I'm trying to pursue is really unconventional for someone my age, and this is just the beginning of the struggle. But it'll all be worth it in the end, because it gets better. Remember guys, don't let the pressure of life and society bring you down. If you don't love what you're doing, stop digging your own grave and start living.

Photo by Kyle.

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Warmth

Iconic Cafe, Nolita, NYC

The warmth of the sun brings comfort that there's life.

I caught up with an old coworker and we discussed our dreams, future life goals, and such. Catch-ups like that remind me that everyone is in their own season, and in their own stage in life. Whatever any of us are going through, we can always remember that we're not alone, and that, just as the night comes, so will a new day.

The sun came out today, and it actually felt really nice to step out of my always dim house (I don't like really bright lights) and take in the vitamin d. Although it's sometimes too bright for me, sunlight re-instills in me that everyday is a new day, and it can either be full of life, or full of dullness; it's for us to decide.

At the same time, living in a culture where we hope that the next day is exciting, we also need our times of rest. Admittedly, I always catch myself having too long of a rest, but it makes it just that much more revitalizing when I actually do go out and have some quality time, whether by myself, or with one or two people.

Photo by Kyle. Poured by Keen Malasarte (@acupofkeen).

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Progress

Cafe de Cupping, Flushing, NYC.

A true work in progress is a labour of love.

Soaking in all of the afternoon light, before the snow hit yet again, really makes me appreciate having alone time. It's liberating, and helps you find solace after sorting through everything that's been on your mind. As much as I hoped to bump into someone, at the same time I had to remind myself that before you worry about meeting other people, worry about yourself and your own well-being first. Go back into the secret place that only you know about, and find rest there.

As much as this blog is a "work in progress," so are we as people. The process never ends; we'll always have something to learn, but it's a fulfilling and exciting journey. We have to keep moving on, even if it means taking one step back, and two steps forward.

More photos after the jump.

Growing

Two Hands NYC, Little Italy, NYC.

Real friendship is like wine; it gets better with age.

The nicest feeling is catching up with someone, and feeling like you picked up right where you left off. A lot of things happened during your time apart, and now that you're together again, you can finally share the current events of your life.

Time passes. Some friends grow up and move forward in life, and some are comfortable where they are right now. And as a real friend, it should be part of our nature to either walk with them, or pause and meet them where they're at.

'Till next time.

Photo by Kyle.

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