Good news local craft lovers: Art classes start back up at Kanibal Home in September! And as a tribute to back-to-school we're pulling out an old favorite.
This Friday (9/3) at 7:30pm we will be hosting a Papier Mache Animals class taught by local artist James French. The cost is $25 and that includes the lesson, all the supplies and refreshments. The class is limited in size so please RSVP to kanibal (at) kanibalhome (dot) com if you're interested in attending.
In addition, if you have a particular animal you're interested in recreating please bring reference materials, otherwise we'll have plenty of images to help you get inspired. Here's a few more images of the octopus James created as an example:
While we were away soaking up the sun and doing a good deal of winter planning Kanibal Home got a nice surprise ... a Wall Street Journal mention! As a HUGE Jersey City advocate, I'm always happy to see the city I call home get some positive press. But I'd love to know, what are your thoughts on the below?
Just across the Hudson River from Manhattan and easily accessible by the PATH train, Jersey City is increasingly a popular destination for those who want to be close to New York City without being immersed in its bustle. Once a heavily industrial area, the area has in the past several years seen a surge in new development and in conversions of former industrial buildings into housing, office, retail and entertainment space.
The short commute, the views and the relatively low prices draw some Manhattan workers. Others both live and work in the area, creating a community dedicated to seeing the city thrive.
Recently built high-rises abound. Some, like Grove Point, a rental building in the downtown area that opened in 2007, found themselves near capacity soon after opening. The Newport area along the waterfront, a mixed-use community with retail, office, entertainment and residential spaces, has several luxury towers, including a 31-story rental building, Aquablu. That building opened last summer and includes 355 apartments. Studios start at $1,800 a month, and three-bedrooms at $3,495. Nearby at the Trump Plaza Residences, a 55-story tower with a 24-hour doorman and full-time concierge, one-bedroom units start at more than $400,000.
For those not interested in modern buildings, there are options in former warehouses, factories and even hospitals. The Art Deco Beacon condominium complex, built in the former Jersey City Medical Building, features a fitness center, pool, screening room and children's playroom. An on-site bar and lounge called Prohibition is also in the works. Studios at the Beacon start at $235,000.
The residences at Dixon Mills, where studios start at more than $200,000, are in a former pencil factory and feature hardwood floors, oversized windows, and high ceilings. Some units also have exposed brick walls and terraces.
More plans for development are in the works. Just this week, the Jersey City Council approved a 244-acre plan to develop the Journal Square area in the city's central business district. Efforts to clean up chromium and other metals left by decades of industrial activity are under way in areas such as Bayfront, Harbor Place and Canal Crossings, in preparation to begin creating mixed-use developments, says Robert Antonicello, executive director of the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency.
Many of the plans for new developments are centered around public-transportation hubs, partly to encourage those who commute to New York City to make Jersey City home, he adds. There are also plans to develop the derelict Powerhouse, which once provided railroad electricity and later was used as a storage site for railroad equipment, into a cultural hub with space for performing arts.
Of course, the plans remain just plans until executed, so many of the developments have a long way to go. Some Jersey City residents still rely on New York night life for their entertainment and say PATH train service can be unreliable, particularly at night and on weekends.
Parks: Liberty State Park has a promenade for walking, jogging and biking, as well as playgrounds and access to fishing, crabbing, boating and kayaking. The park offers not only stunning views of the Manhattan skyline but also ferry service to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. Other green spaces include the 270-acre Lincoln Park, which has recreation fields and wetlands. Smaller green spaces include Lafayette Park, Van Vorst Park and Hamilton Park, among others.
Dining: The Grove Street area is the central location for dining, and popular restaurants include Marco & Pepe, which offers brunch, dinner and dessert, and the Merchant, a bar and restaurant housed in an old bank—a vault, now used for storage, is in the main dining room. The diverse ethnic community has contributed a variety of restaurants, including Taqueria Downtown, which offers fresh Mexican food for a low price. Zeppelin Hall Restaurant & Biergarten offers indoor and outdoor seating, and Bar Majestic is in a converted theater. For a sweet treat, try Made with Love Organic Bakery & Café.
Shopping: Kanibal Home is a clothing, accessories and home-décor store that also sells refurbished furniture and vintage dishware. For more accessories and clothing, also try Tia's Place, Another Man's Treasure Vintage Store and Aspasia's Boutique. Stockinette Knitting Café offers coffee and pastries along with knitting materials. Other finds include FJB Comics & Games. Newport Centre, a three-level mall in the Newport Hudson Waterfront Community has department stores like Macy's and Sears, as well as other retailers like American Eagle Outfitters, Brookstone, Fossil and Godiva Chocolatier.
Schools: There are 31 schools for students in kindergarten through 8th grade, as well as six high schools. Of the 1,258 high-school students who graduated in 2009, 776 went on to a two-year or four-year college or university, and they received nearly $8 million in scholarship money, according to the Jersey City Public Schools 2008-09 annual report. Private schools include the Our Lady of Victories School, the Our Lady of Mercy Academy and the Al Ghazaly School. Higher-education options include the New Jersey City University, which offers courses in areas like media arts, business, education and criminal justice, and St. Peter's College, a Jesuit college with undergraduate, graduate and professional programs.
Hey there kids, if you're looking for us this weekend don't worry we'll be back on Tuesday, 8/31. The Kanibal Home crew is going to take a little end-of-summer getaway. But get ready ... we're already stocking the shop full of fun fall coats, lightweight knits and jeggings! And there's so much more to come ...
Just a reminder that Jade Kuei's "Beyond the Brambles" will be up in the shop until this Monday, August 23rd. So pop by, support one of our amazing Jersey City artists and take home a one-of-a-kind piece of art or a wearable art brooch.
The shop just got stocked with a ton of new dresses, a fabulous jacket and some puffy-sleeved shirts that my eyes roll in delight. Pop in and check them out. Also, don't forget, Kanibal Home is hosting the last Con Vivo concert of the summer this Thursday at 8pm!
Don't cry too hard, but Kanibal Home will be closed Monday, 8/16 (tomorrow). We'll be operating our normal hours the rest of the week, though.
"Whoa, why will Kanibal Home be closed?" you may ask. Well, only because we have a super amazing trade show to attend. Pretty much my FAVORITE show of the whole entire year. So although we'll miss you all on Monday, know that we're out hunting down even more unique, fantastic finds for our Jersey City friends.
Have a great rest of your weekend and see everyone on Tuesday!
Hey kids, mark your calendars for next Thursday (8/19)! Kanibal Home will be hosting Con Vivo's last concert in the summer series and this one is going to be really special. They will be presenting Spanish Art Songs for Voice and Guitar at 8pm. Arrive early to guarantee a seat.
Also to note on our event calendar:
* Art Class (How to make paper mache animals): Friday, 9/3 at 7:30pm
* Bubbles & Beauty (A special makeup and champagne event): Thursday, 9/9 from 6:00 to 9:00pm
Sometimes I get so involved in a project that I forget to record the "before" product. Because -- in my opinion -- something is only "wow"-worthy if you have an idea of what to compare it to.
So just trust me on this one. This was a disaster. We're talking a piece of furniture that should have been dragged out back and shot. But I'm a softy and I like to take in the damaged and the dysfunctional.
A couple coats of paint, a little love, some stain and a few decorative details later and something that was destined for the junk pile is now a display piece at Kanibal Home.
I'm selling off the shop's existing shelving units to make room for some new updates, but in the meantime I needed something to fill the space. I was a little nervous about the look-and-feel of the final product, but I think it blends well with the shop. All in all it was a design success.
Here are some detail shots of the new area:
I love that moose/elk/woodland animal sculpture.
Check out this amazing vintage trunk from the 1950's. Here's a detail of my favorite part:
Oh dresses. Sometimes I think if I had a store stocked with just dresses I would do just as well as I do with a range of goods. For one, they're easy. It's one piece of clothing and you're ready to rock and roll. Second, they're freakin' cute. ESPECIALLY since dresses at Kanibal Home usually have interesting details like functional pockets, adorable prints and hidden detailing.
The stunner that just arrived in the shop this week is no exception. Check it out and then come try it on:
PS: And this is just one of the many new items that's been added to the shop this week ...
I have a not-so-small obsession with all things military, homeland security and good ol' Americana. Yup, I'm that freak that watches the border crossing cop shows on Spike TV and the Homeland Security show that was on prime time last year. As much as I love the people, though, it's what people try to bring with them that really gets me all jazzed up.
So you can only imagine my delight when I found out there is going to be an exhibition called "Contraband" that's dedicated to all the random stuff that people try to smuggle through JFK Airport. The 1,075 photos will be on display at the Lever House Art Collection in New York starting September 30th, but in the meantime the New York Times has a small preview. Here are some of my favorites:
We are a home furnishings and lifestyle store rooted in the belief that history is the heart of the home. Kanibal Home’s offerings include refurbished vintage furniture, found objects & new home decor, apparel and gift items. “Pretty things” can make life better, but they can also be better for life. Kanibal Home repurposes goods, devouring the old and creating something new.
