Earlier this month, Office Magazine invited me to take part in a special collaboration with Joe & The Juice, celebrating both their first Brooklyn location and ten years in New York. For the project, they asked me to choose a space where I feel most myself — creative, expressive, and in balance.
I chose 50 Norman.
Nestled in Greenpoint, 50 Norman has long been one of my favorite places in the borough. It’s more than just a space — it’s a beautifully curated home for Japanese craft, design, and cuisine, layered with intention and detail. Every time I step inside, it feels grounding and expansive at once: the kind of environment that naturally encourages creativity.
The shoot itself was easy, almost seamless. Surrounded by textures of wood, ceramics, and light, it felt less like a staged production and more like an organic extension of the space itself. I left feeling grateful — not just for the opportunity, but for the reminder of how much place shapes energy.
Afterward, we lingered for lunch at Dashi Okume, one of the vendors within 50 Norman. Their Japanese set lunches lean on the pricier side for something casual, but the care in each dish makes it worthwhile. Comforting bowls, balanced flavors, and thoughtful details carried through every plate. It was the kind of meal that makes you slow down, notice, and savor — a lovely midday pause before stepping back into the rhythm of the day.
Spaces like 50 Norman remind me why I love Brooklyn: layered, evolving, always surprising — a backdrop that holds both creativity and quiet in equal measure.
50 Norman, 50 Norman Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222
