The new plant I am obsessed with: Aeonium "zwartkop" aka Black Rose

As many of you know, I've become totally into succulents recently.
I've been propagating my own from leaves, and buying them at little plant stores at an alarming rate.
Our dining room table is almost fully covered with plant experiments of mine.

BUT! I am not done. I want another!
When I first saw the aeonium arboreum zwartkop in person, I thought it must be dyed because it was so dark.
Also the stem is so thick and the roots are so tiny and dinky that I still don't understand how it lives.

It has really dark purple, almost black leaves on a thick woody stem. The leaves form rosettes that look like flowers but they aren't! In effect, it looks like it is always blooming weird dark flowers on bare stems. Very goth.
There are yellow flowers that do appear and make the plant look even more bizarre to me.

I can't seem to find one in my local plant stores, though I am sure if I went back to the flower district on 28th st and 6th ave I could find one.
So I took to the internet and it seems like Etsy and Ebay are the places to buy. Unfortunately, there really isn't much selection on Amazon which sucks because I love Amazon and I get to shop free there with my AmEx points.

Here are some listings I have been looking at:

 

$5 + $6 shipping

Etsy option that looks more purple than black but it seems healthy. You get a rooted plant.

$7 +$6 Shipping

A blacker, more rose-like version that I really like. It might be my favorite. You get a rooted cutting.

$29 + $10 Shipping

This guy on Etsy has a bunch of plants and can customize your order, it seems. I am tempted by these larger plants with well established roots.

 

$2.50 + $6 shipping from FL

This one is from Ebay and looks like the pot comes with a 3" plant. I am not sure if that means it is a cutting or if it is rooted.

$9 + $7 shipping from San Diego

Another Ebay option, and you get a 6" stem cutting from this plant that is not rooted.

 

$14 + $12 Shipping

Finally, this group from Amazon includes 4 plants in little pots. Cute!

Separately, I also love this weirdo plant:

$8.50 + $6 Shipping

These look like little birds in a nest opening their mouths, don't they?

Word to the Wise: Lots of sample sales starting today in NYC!

 

$189 Messeca Valentina platform

Messeca

Deal: 70% to 80% off women's fall and spring shoes, including fall and spring flats, sandals, wedges, heels, and boots.

When/Where: Thursday, March 27 through Friday, March 28. Daily 10am—7pm. 78 Fifth Ave between W. 13th and W. 14th Sts, ninth floor (no phone)

 

$450 Nonoo sleevess dress

Nonoo

Deal: Up to 70% off retail prices for womenswear, with samples starting at $50.

When/Where: Thursday, March 27 through Friday, March 28. Daily 9am—8pm. 611 Broadway between Bleecker and Houston Sts, suite 309 (no phone)


OXO

Deal: Deep discounts on kitchenware, cookware, and cleaning equipment, with prices starting at $1. Bring a shopping bag (one will not be provided).

When/Where: Thursday, March 27 through Friday, March 28. Daily 10am—5pm. 601 W. 26th St between Eleventh and Twelfth Aves, tenth floor (no phone)


David Yurman

Deal: Up to 70% off retail prices on jewelry. See the Racked.com report from the last sale here for what to expect.

When/Where: Thursday, March 27 through Sunday, March 30. Thurs 3pm—8pm, Fri—Sat 10am—7pm, Sun 11am—5pm. The Altman Building, 135 W. 18th St between Sixth and Seventh Aves (212-741-3400)


Are you excited for any of them?
I might hit the OXO sale.

The best hot sauce is Yellowbird from Austin, TX

Recently, I was down in Texas for SXSW Edu (no, not the fun music one), and I had the chance to eat many many breakfast tacos.

The little gourmet grocery store near the downtown convention center, called Royal Blue, was excellent and had the coconut water I love and also migas breakfast tacos all wrapped in foil and ready to go.
They also had a hot sauce bar where you could add things before you left, and that is where I discovered Yellowbird.

The sauce is made of habaneros, so it is definitely spicy, but it has a great fruity flavor and a thick texture like Sriracha. I loved it!
They sold it at Royal Blue for $10 but I didn't want to have to check a bag on the way home so I passed.

My last morning there, I knew it would be a while until I got the hot sauce again so I really loaded up my taco. I wrapped it back up and took it to my first session, where I sat in back and bit in.
Holy crap, I almost died. Turns out, you can't really make up for lost time by having all your hot sauce at once.

Despite that, I still loved it and when I got home I ordered some online.
The shipping costs more than the bottle of hot sauce itself, which makes me a little crazy, but it is worth it.


$8 Yellowbird Sauce

One of the best things about it is the squeeze bottle, but on their website it says they are moving to a glass bottle next month for preservation purposes. So get one now!

I was thinking of ordering a whole case now so I could have a lot of squeeze bottles, but E reminded me that I wouldn't be able to go through them very quickly and by that time the perishability which necessitates them moving to the glass might come into play.


Here are the ingredients, and why it has so much flavor:

• Carrots
• Onions
• Habanero Peppers
• Distilled Vinegar
• Tangerines
• Limes
• Garlic
• Kosher Salt
• Organic Evaporated Cane Juice (also known as organic sugar)

Word to the Wise: Sample sales in NYC this week

 

$250 Astro jumper

$115 Crater leggings

Surface to Air 
Deal: Up to 80% off women's and men's clothing and accessories from the winter and summer collections. The women's XX Trench is $190 (from $690), the women's Cropped Only Jacket is $90 (from $270), and the Jivan Wedges in black are $140 (from $460). The men's Edmonton Bomber is $220 (from $760).

When/Where: Tuesday, March 11 through Sunday, March 16. Tues—Sat 10am—7pm, Sun 10am—1pm. 225 Fifth Avenue between 26th and 27th Sts (212-725-5400)
 

 

$295 Coral fan necklace from Dinosaur Designs

Dinosaur Designs  
Deal: Up to 80% off jewelry and home goods. The sale will include handcrafted resin and sterling silver items.

When/Where: Friday, March 7 through Monday, March 10. Daily 10am—5pm. 211 Elizabeth Street at Prince St (212-680-3523)

 

$575 Bellagio 27" Spinner trunk

Bric's Milano 
Deal: Up to 80% off retail prices on luxury luggage and bags.

When/Where: Monday, March 10 through Saturday, March 16. Mon—Sat 10am—7pm, Sun 10am—4pm. 260 Fifth Ave between 28th and 29th Sts (212-725-5400)

 

$138 Glitter sandal

Jack Rogers Sample Sale 
Deal:You will find an assortment of beautiful products from winter to spring in styles that will stay in your wardrobe for years to come. Dresses, sweaters, blouses, handbags, accessories and, of course, shoes!! The Jack Rogers Sample Sale offers a unique mix of hard-to-find vendors who embody classic resort dressing with a colorful twist as well as our iconic footwear.
Apparel – up to 80% off
Accessories (Bags, scarves and hats) – up to 80% off
Footwear (including vintage Navajo styles) – up to 70% off
Where/When: At Jack Rogers Showroom, 155 Fifth Avenue, 6th floor: March 12-14; Wed-Thurs (8:30am-6:30pm), Fri (8:30am-5pm).

$48 Heather Trio

QUINN & Kendra Phillip Trunk Show

Deal:Join us for wine Wednesday. Shop N’ Sip and meet the jewelry designer, Kendra Phillip.
Where/When: Quinn New York, 181 Orchard St, NY, NY; 10002; March 12 (6-8pm).

 

$7 Dauville Nesting bowl

Canvas

Deal:Get up to 90% off retail on SELECT merchandise at the Canvas. Deals include Furniture Floor Samples, Vintage Furniture, Table Top, Pillows, Throws, Bedding, Discontinued Items.
Where/When: Canvas, 123 West 17th Street, New York, NY 10011; (212) 372-7706. March 13-17.