Thursday, June 23, 2011

Limelight Marketplace


I've been meaning to blog about this spot for the longest while – being that my spinning classes are right smack near this castle-esque building. Longtime church turned club turned boutique shopping mall, Limelight Marketplace is definitely a gem spot in the city that would be a good place to get inspired, get some gifts, and get some home decorations and cocktail dresses!

Looking down from the top floor view of the first floor which plays host to a collection of dresses, kicks, and random bags wallets makeups gifts.

Saw some cheese meats and salads on the first floor ready made to be sold and munched on.

A jeans shop on the toppest floor.

They kept the stained glass church windows.

I'd like to come check out this wine bar for happy hour someday – from 5-7pm beer and wine is only $5 a glass. Yelp reviews say the small plates are not bad either. Must be a nice view sitting on the edge seats... unless you're afraid of heights!

And if you are afraid of heights, you can always relax downstairs with a piece of cake or some gelato. Also apart of the Limelight family is Grimaldi's. YES the pizza shop near Brooklyn Bridge Park that always has a huge giant hour long wait of a line. I'd like to get a pie here as well (they don't sell it by the slices), see why this place calls for a second visit?

Brocade is one of the shops inside this mall – I REALLY like the brand's styles. Extremely well designed home design decor and furniture. I'm tempted to get the silver mirror wall decals.

There's also some antique purses/shoe trinket box goodies sprinkled upstairs and behind glass cases. Full of character and personalities inside one marketplace.

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Sleep No More

Sleep No More is an interactive play that takes place at the abandoned McKittrick Hotel. Based off of Shakespeare's Macbeth, visitors are allowed to wander around and explore all 5 (or 6) meticulously decorated floors of the entire complex by following various characters all around the buildings. All audience members were required to always have a white mask on at all times so that you can easily differentiate the true characters from the visitors.

Before going, I had read a couple of tips and reviews to go in a group, but to separate once inside, so that each individual can see the show from their own point of view to compare and contrast after the show. In the play, the audience is invited to touch everything, open all shelves and walk into any nooks and crannies you can get your hands on. Even encouraged to be brave and feel free to stare into the actor/actresses' eyes and reach out to touch their hands and props.

I opted to stick with my date in the beginning and actually ended up separating from him during a little mishap* being abducted by one of the characters! Eventually we found each other again and reunited when he recognized my shirt. The whole experience was so detail-oriented and AMAZING that I thought about it for days after!!

*Spoiler Alert on my experience interacting with one of the characters:

I'm not sure which character she represented, but she was the earthtone/biege-dressed woman with the suitcase talking to a lady in red and cries (lady in red takes a vile to collect her tear?). She was by a doorway and saw me, took me by the hand led me to a bedroom, separates me and my date by shutting the door in his face, and proceeds to take off her sweater (whoaa?). By that point I was kinda scared what was gonna happen but I trusted her and snapped back to reality that this is just a show so I should go along with it hahahhaha. So then she starts reciting a verse/poetry to me while all that above was running through my head, all while taking off my mask, smiling and caressing me like I was her own child, "Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again..."


Not gonna lie: I was freaked out. Then she pushed me into a closet with her and continued to recite. And she gives me a necklace/locket and puts it around me and says something like "...But for now I will keep you here safe." And she shoves me inside leaving me in there (O_O) and locks the closet. Luckily I realized there is a secret door/compartment that lets me out and I bust out excitedly LOL.




We were there for the last showing of the night, meaning we were able to stick around on the main lounge to just chill and get a drink while watching a Jazz band perform and a lady sing some tunes. We tried out the absinthe station concoctions... they were a bit strong for my taste though.



Later on when I got home upon receiving a locket, I realized that you can open up the locket - inside was newspaper and 2 seeds!