*gasp* it's snowing in new york city. . .

. . . i'm in utter shock and absolutely NOT ready for this kind of weather. Instead, I'm enjoying looking at these photos below, which make me feel all warm inside :) and daydreaming of my trip to Argentina this December! *Sigh*

Goodbye Summer and I guess Fall . . . Have a warm weekend everyone! 

Kisses, Mais

Dressing up for haunted houses and a parade . . .

. . . yes i am talking about halloween in new york city! 

New Yorkers take it seriously and it's pretty damn fabulous. Despite the cold and rainy days we've been having each year, people will still dress up or down (for those who wear close to nothing) and head out in large crowds to visit all the SCARY haunted houses or spend their evening at the grand parade. The halloween parade, in Greenwich Village, runs straight up 6th avenue from spring street to 16th street. See this site for more information. 

This year the city will be celebrating their 39th annual parade in style and I will be attending!! Last year i was too cold and feeling lazy, so i stayed home cuddled up with a cup of tea and my warm blanket. This year, i'm determined to dress up and beat the cold in style, with my husband by my side ;) We're dressing up as Sandy and Dany from Grease. I can't wait!… What about you? What are you dressing up as?

I prefer the more romantic side of halloween, rather than the scary and bloody side. It's more fascinating to see someone dressed up all glamorous in glitter, a beautiful mask, an old vintage dress or even a charming character from an old fairytale. But that's juts me :)

So dress your kids, dress your dogs and dress yourself up and head out to the parade or to a haunted house and celebrate the funniest holiday of the year, halloween!!

Cheers, Mais.


(Photos by Brooklyn Vegan)

Halloween on 6th Street - Austin

See more photos  here 

It’s that time of year again, I hope you have your costumes picked out (and ladies, let’s try to keep it classy)… it’s Halloween and there’s no other place to go than to 6^th Street. Located in downtown Austin between Congress and Highway 35, 6^th Street is probably known as Texas’ most famous street. 6^th Street and its surrounding streets offer all kinds of entertainment, there are no rules here especially when it comes to Halloween. If you ever find yourself on 6^th street you will see many historical buildings, tons of bars, live music venues, unique restaurants, art galleries, tattoo shops and of course the famous Driskill Hotel. You will also probably run into a few naked people, so don’t be startled… it’s just how we roll (well, not me, but you know who you are).

More photos here 

Austin is known as the “Live Music Capitol of the World” and it all started on 6^th Street. Several other nationally and internationally known events such as SXSW, ACL, Biker Rally, Pecan Street Festival and Mardi Gras Austin all show their love for 6^th street. There’s a reason why tens of thousands of people make their way to 6^th street in their “unordinary and weird” Halloween costumes to party the night away, and each year topping the last. Every bar is packed to the ceilings with some of the craziest people of the city, while the street stays filled with diehard partiers. This is definitely not a place for kids, so that should tell you something.

Great times on 6th Street Austin

I recently stumbled across a photographer’s website here, PLEASE CHECK IT OUT! He happened to be shooting wedding photos at the Driskill Hotel the same day of the 6^th street Halloween celebration. He captured some of the most amazing photos I have seen of the event. His photos can explain how a typical Halloween on 6^th Street plays out, better than I could ever explain.

All I have to say is, if you are in Austin this weekend and you are looking for a way to spend Halloween the right way…. No place is cooler than 6^th Street.

Xo Patrice Nichole Rios

Needle number two enters the scene . . .

. . . and it's a great pleasure to finally write to you all. I think Ms. Patrice has been doing a fabulous job keeping you guys entertained.  

I'm incredibly excited to be collaborating and sharing my daily design obsessions with my dear friend Patrice. I met Patrice in architecture school, in Detroit, MI, back in 2002. Instantly we clicked and began plotting how we can "take over" the design world ;). Silly, I know, but we both felt the need to work together and do something inspiring, like starting a lifestyle/design magazine nationwide, or participating in design competitions all over the world, or even opening up a small design firm in NYC ! It was all so much fun to discuss and day dream about... But as life does, it takes young and ambitious individuals on their destined path, she moved to Austin and I settled comfortably in NYC. 

However, we still kept in touch and discussed our design ambitions and professional careers that we were trying to maintain. But somehow a few complaints, here and there, would always creep up in a conversation. We were both frustrated with the lack of passion we had for our current career status and we were looking for something more. And so it began again… we started planning how to collaborate together while 1,700  miles apart…

"Two Needles in a Haystack" is where NYC meets Austin. Two young  and ambitious designers, living in two different cities; coming together to rebuild their passion for design - but don't get me wrong, we never really lost it, we just got distracted in other peoples goals and forgot that we too have our own goal… to take over the design world ;) (inside joke).

So we sincerely hope that our readers will find a little piece of inspiration here. After all, that is one of the reasons we've started this lovely blog. 

Much love, Mais

Whole Foods Market: Birth Place Austin, TX - Patrice Nichole Rios

Organically grown in Austin, Texas

 Hey New Yorkers! Austin has Whole Foods Market, what do y’all have? Before I moved to Austin, I had no idea Whole Foods Market started here. The first store opened in 1980, (years before I was even born) fast forward 31 years and you can find over 300 stores across North America and the United Kingdom. The growth of Whole Foods Market has seen such great success because of their consistent high standards for organic and natural foods and their support for the sustainable agriculture community. John Mackey, founder of Whole Foods is a true inspiration and defines the meaning of “a risk taker”. At the young age of 25, John Mackey (college dropout) and his 21 year old girlfriend Rene Lawson borrowed $45,000 from family and friends to open a small natural foods store here in Austin. Soon after the store opening, John and Rene were kicked out of their apartment for keeping food products there, so they moved to the store. Not having a shower, the couple used the hose from their dishwasher to bathe. What a lovely start huh? So, after a few added business partners (Craig Weller and Mark Skiles), and a couple of company mergers (Saferway and Clarksville Natural Grocery), Whole Foods Market was created.

Top image: laist.com / bottom image: vegetarianorganicblog.com

Well…. on behalf of myself and probably every Austinite, we would like to personally thank all of these guys for creating the ultimate go to store for all of our organic desires! And of course thank you for the bragging rights! From the phenomenal salad bar & cafe, to the easy-to-follow recipe cards (God knows I need them), Whole Foods has everything I could possibly want in a grocery store. I usually try to find any reason to shop at Whole Foods; after a Saturday run at Lady Bird Lake, Whole Foods is where I go to get my double green smoothie, between meetings with clients, Whole Foods is where I stop to rejuvenate with an organic snack, and on Sunday afternoons, my sister and I head over to Whole Foods to do our weekly shopping. Also, as I mentioned in my last post about throwing a chic dinner party, Whole Foods is where I go to host that perfect soiree. Impress your friends and family with an elegant cheese and wine party (be like me and act as if you know how to pair the two, but really the employers from Whole Foods do it for me), everyone will think you really did your research and you will be known as the “ULTIMATE PARTY THROWER”. 

(photo on left) Sunkist Natural Juices

Anyway, I hope you were able to learn a little more about the history of Whole Foods Market and how a small business idea can make such a healthy impact.

Thanks to the following links for images and information that allowed us to create this post:

http://leberpr.blogs.com/lovepr/2008/07/another-juicy-d.html

www.wholefoods.com

http://vegetarianorganicblog.com

http://laist.com/2007/11/09/whole_foods.php

Xo, Patrice Nichole Rios

Austin can throw chic dinner parties too - Patrice Nichole Rios

http://thefive-senses.blogspot.com/2010/05/eating-out.html

Whether you’re hosting a dinner party in your 700 square foot apartment or the roof top of a building over looking the city skyline, one thing you want to remember…the absolute MOST important detail is the DECOR! Once you decide on the location for your dinner party, start making your guest list. Try to keep it short, I suggest a maximum of twelve close friends and family. Keeping your guest list at this size allows for great conversation, but not enough to get a noise complaint (trust me on this). Next on the checklist is creating your menu. To make it easy, pick a theme…for example French cuisine… if it’s a summer night dinner party with a French theme, start researching and get your google on. Maybe contact one of your favorite French restaurants. Such as Peche, a local French restaurant here in Austin. Their website shows several entrées you could attempt at home or always call to see if they provide catering (don’t believe anyone who says catering is cheating.. it can be our little secret). Make sure to pick fantastic appetizers, light salads, rich soups, and main courses that look beautiful on a plate. If you are a super hero and decide to cook everything on your own, make sure you buy quality ingredients, and there’s no better place in my opinion to go to than Austin’s very own Whole Foods Market. Whole Foods has everything you need to throw a chic dinner party.

Menu from Peche, one of Austin's best French restaurants

So, how do you truly impress your dinner guests? Well, if you’re anything like me (a huge planner) there’s time to mail out invitations. You want to make sure to highlight the theme of the party and maybe mention the dress attire (nothing is worse than going all out for a special event and having your guest arrive and not be camera ready). Inviting Affairs is a great local company for ordering invitations for any occasion.The great thing about hosting for a small group is that you can make the party as personal as you’d like. Place cards and small take home party favors are always a good idea. A party favor could consist of a bottle of French wine with a personal label created by you (check out Austin’s www.personalwine.com) or making personal take home desserts. Adding small touches such as these to the table will definitely make it memorable.

Personalize your party favors to make it extra memorable

Decide on a color scheme to make it easier when selecting chinaware and linens (table cloths and napkins). Don’t forget the centerpieces! Tons of candles are necessary; I mean everyone looks good in candle lighting. Simply wow your guest with something original. Just make it your own, show everyone the small things you appreciate... and have a GREAT TIME!

Whatever your style is... make it memorable!

 Remember there is always help out there. If you feel overwhelmed, contact your local event planner immediately....and leave it all up to them. A great event planning company that I have worked with closely is from Austin, called Guest List Intimate Event Design... check them out!

I encourage everyone to have a formal dinner party, so if you do, send us photos! Mais and I would love to see how we have inspired you.

Xo, Patrice Nichole Rios

(Photos were gathered from the following sites: http://www.invitingaffairs.com/, www.blog.weddingwire.com, www.calorielab.com, http://www.lunchboxmagazine.com/, http://www.pecheaustin.com/, www.biancarodriguez.files.wordpress.com, http://www.beautifulpurposeevents.com/, http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/)

Oh my Olivia! - Patrice Nichole Rios

Image from www.Olivia-austin.com

Happy Friday everyone! Thanks for returning to read my quick review about a restaurant named after the chef’s daughter Olivia, how sweet! Last night my sister joined me along with my cousin at the Olivia to try a few new fall items on the menu. All I have to say is…. TRY THE SLIDERS! We sipped champagne, shared the oysters, sampled the cheese plate, tasted fries with the specialty ketchup, and loved the sliders… still leaving room for THREE different fall desserts. The service was phenomenal, the pastry chef himself brought out the desserts, which included a deconstructed caramel bread pudding, to us. You don’t get that kind of service just anywhere. I could go on and on about the food, the ambiance and the oh so good looking chefs, but just take my word for it. If you are new to the city, a tourist or simply have never been to the Olivia, trust me when I say, GO.

Xo, Patrice Nichole Rios

Food, Architecture or College Spirit? What really defines Austin? - Patrice Nichole Rios

From home cooking style to celebration cocktails, Austin has it all

 When I moved to Austin, I really didn’t know what the hype was about this city. I just thought the locals were big on music, dressed kinda funky and that Austin was simply a college town. Little did I know that real Austinites are actually hard to find (as 173 people move here everyday), and little did I know that the funky fashion reflects the super laid back attitude of the city. You can literally find yourself eating at a fine dining restaurant sitting next to a man in cargo shorts and flip-flops watching him pull out a Black American Express Card to pay the bill. I learned very vast that this is not West Hollywood, the saying “you are what you drive” doesn’t exist here…. It’s more on the line of “you are what you are”. So what really defines Austin? Ask around and most people will say THE FOOD! It’s all about the food. Whether it’s at some of the coolest designed restaurants like La Condesa or a backyard bar-b-q at Saltlick (located 20 minutes outside of the city), you will find yourself struggling to decide where to go for breakfast, lunch, brunch or dinner.

La Condesa is a great get away from the suburbs to downtown

Hummmm…. So, I’m thinking tonight is an Olivia night! The Olivia (located on South Congress and Oltorf) along with La Condesa (located in the 2^nd street district) are both stunning restaurants… designed by Michael Hsu Office of Architecture, a local architecture firm that houses incredible designers who really know how to create magnificent dining experiences. The Olivia is a perfect example of how Austin gourmet food inspires architecture. A place as Cuatro’s (located near 24^th and Guadalupe) display a well designed restaurant with amazing Mexican food while catering to the University of Texas students. If you decide to go on a Saturday afternoon during a UT football game, get ready to be surrounded by screaming fans and uniquely constructed rustic-modern architecture.

Cuatro's is the place to be for great food and atmosphere during the game

 So, is it the food that defines Austin? Or, is it the architecture? Some would say it’s definitely the college spirit. However, it seams as though it’s all of the above. Without the food, you would not have satisfied Texans and tourists. Without the architecture, you would not have people talking about their memorable dining experiences. And without the college spirit, you would not have the high energy that fills Austin. Come back tomorrow for my reviews on Olivia’s Fall Menu… mmmmm!

xo, Patrice Nichole Rios

"KEEP AUSTIN WEIRD" - Patrice Nichole Rios

 The famous Austin slogan found everywhere around the city

It’s official; fall is here, even in Texas. The temperature has fallen from a frightening 100+ degrees to a crisp 81 degrees. I know you're thinking 81 degrees in the fall is absurd, but guys a 20-degree change is crucial here. Anyway happy fall everyone!

Now, let’s get down to business. I'm Patrice (one of the two needles) and I'm a new designer to the city of Austin. You will soon be meeting the other needle, Mais. Now, for those of you not familiar with Austin, Texas, I'm here to share with you all the unique perquisites this “weird” city has to offer. After leaving West Hollywood in 2009 to venture out on my own, I found myself in one of the greatest cities I have ever lived in… and let me tell you, I have lived all around this amazing world; from Detroit to Shanghai, Mexico to Canada. I moved to Austin with zero expectations, so far I have experienced more than I could ask for. Fortunately, Austin has been placed in the ”recession proof” category, allowing my interior design business to pick up. I have had the privilege of working on projects like The W Residences of Austin, a home in the prestigious Rob Roy neighborhood and even branching out to design a studio apartment in downtown Chicago. Some say this is luck, I say that's Austin!

So please join in on this journey of discovery. Discovering how cities like New York and Austin can inspire each other, discovering your likeness for design and discovering two designers discovering the world together. And hey, maybe even discover why the famous saying “Keep Austin Weird” is so… famous. I hope you will follow and learn from this blog and that it will encourage you to take note of all the beautiful things that surround you in this phenomenal world.

I will be sharing all of my design experiences with you as my career progresses… I am barely 26, so this is only the beginning. I will share my favorite MUST SEE destination spots, so STAY TUNED. Austin just isn’t built on rising temperatures and “Friday Night Lights”, it’s surprisingly built on incredible music, art, film, architecture, food, design and simply LIFE. So let's see what there is to be discovered here. After all, I am just one needle living in this haystack of a world.

Xo, Patrice Nichole Rios