FOOD: A Cuppa at PressTea

Last month, a new cafe opened in Greenwich Village namely Press Tea to much fanfare.

Since the opening, I've stopped by a few times and I have to admit the fuss is warranted. This place brings coffee and tea lovers alike to try an innovative approach to tea preparation and freshly brewed special blends - very imPRESSive! 

The wooden motif, warm lighting and cozy seating offers an ideal place to catch up with friends, sip a special brew in your creative mode or get away from reality with a good book.

Ironically, each time that I've stopped by ended up being the worst rainy days of spring and Press Tea was that oasis in those stormy moments.

Chante

POST HURRICANE SANDY: Rebuild.Restore.Recover

Sandy's Aftermath in Haiti
Photo: MINUSTAH/Logan Abassi

The path of Sandy's wrath stretched from Jamaica to Haiti to the southern tip of the United States to New York then to Canada. Her reach was powerful and her impact was (and is) just as devastating.

I'm sure you've seen the countless accounts in the news and in social media of the effects of Hurricane Sandy. My heart aches.

And as we here in New York City slowly but surely bounce back we can’t help but to reflect in order to assess what was destroyed, give thanks for our blessings, remember loved ones lost, face the hard reality of starting over and picking up the pieces to move forward.

Me, Caprice, our friends and families are safe and were very fortunate. For that, we are truly thankful. Our hearts go out to the families and communities that are suffering. We feel your pain and are with you.

Sandy's Aftermath in Red Hook, Brooklyn
Photo: Chante Ramsey/VySyn Photography
Volunteers along with The National Guard were in Coffey Park today bringing a total of 25,000 MRE's
and 30,000 bottles of water to residents.

We urge everyone who was as fortunate as we were, to count your blessings and find out how you can help those in need as they continue to struggle to carry on. Below are some resources that I gathered from local officials that you can refer to give your time and/or provide resources to:

NYC Service: http://www.nycservice.org 
New York Cares: http://newyorkcares.org 
Occupy Sandy Relief: http://interoccupy.net/occupysandy/volunteer/ 
Brooklyn Community Foundation: http://www.brooklyncommunityfoundation.org/ 
Transit Forward: http://www.transitforward.org/hurricane_sandy_assistance
Rockaway Waterfront Alliance: http://www.rwalliance.org 
The Red Hook Initiative: http://www.rhicenter.org 
The Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City: http://www.nyc.gov/fund 
The Red Cross: http://www.redcross.org

I also urge you to reach out to your local officials for additional volunteer and donation resources in your area.


-Chante

Summer In NYC 2012

Flower Power on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn
Photo Credit: Chante Ramsey/Vysyn Photography

The beginning of August signals a lot for me. August 1st kicks off a month-long birthday celebration, throughout the month of August I'm witnessing carnival novelties pop up across Brooklyn in preparation for the parade next month and then the reality check hits me mid-month that the summer is coming to a close.


While I'm a little sad that summer will bid us adieu pretty soon, I can only reflect on how amazing this season has been even with the intense hot-waves! Vacationing in the city has been exciting from taking a day trip to the local parks, sailing on the ferries as an alternative route to trekking to those unchartered parts of New York City and re-exploring neighborhoods that I haven't been to since I was in my early twenties.


This summer was (and is) dedicated to re-confirming what I already know - how awesome NYC truly is!

Gantry State Park @ Long Island City
Photo Credit: Chante Ramsey/Vysyn Photography

With still a few weeks left of this summer season, I have plenty more planned (and unplanned) to look forward to. I can't hardly wait!


-Chante

L to R: Enjoying a cool treat courtesy of a Mister Softee truck, Sweet treats @ CandyRush (Brooklyn),
Joe's Pub in the East Village, CityPoint - future shopping center in downtown Brooklyn
Photo Credit: Chante Ramsey/Vysyn Photography

At the Fairway Pier @ Red Hook in Brooklyn
Photo Credit: Chante Ramsey/Vysyn Photography

L to R: Wall Street Wifi Hotspot, Jamaica Avenue (Queens),
Park Slope's Stinky Brooklyn Cheese Shop, B61 Bus Stop in Red Hook (Brooklyn)
Photo Credit: Chante Ramsey/Vysyn Photography

L to R: Chelsea Market at lunchtime, DUMBO Brooklyn,
Bird watching at the Brooklyn Bridge Park pier, Sweets at the Dewey's Candy Shop (Brooklyn)
Photo Credit: Chante Ramsey/Vysyn Photography

NYC Marathon 2011

In one word....Incredible! I checked out the annual NYC Marathon last weekend with a few thousand friends ;)  I copped my spot early Sunday morning in Park Slope, Brooklyn.  During the race, it was extremely hard for me to focus on snapping shots because I was incredibly excited to witness this for the first time especially as the runners were whizzing by. 

There were a few poignant moments when some of the runners looked like they were losing their steam. But me, along with the crowd, roared in cheer Bk-style in hopes of giving them that extra needed boost that was way more powerful than any energy drink could give. We knew this race was hard for even the most experienced runner to go the entire distance. This experience was one that will live within me for a long while--well until next year when I attend again. I'm telling you....the passion that these runners exuded invigorated me that day. 

Congrats to all the runners!! U Rawked!!!

-Chante

There were furry cheerleaders too ;)

Photos by Chante Ramsey/VySyn Photography