Are you ready for Valentine’s Day?
Snag our coolstuff.nyc x Brownstone Botanical collab V-Day bouquet & reserve your table at our Valentine’s Day restaurant picks!
This week we’re featuring our coolstuff x Brownstone Botanical collab bouquet for V-Day (!!!), sharing food pop-ups & gallery shows, highlighting all the best spots to spend love day with your favorite people and introducing you to our cool new friend: Carli Gordon of The Libi Project.
Mercado Central
The great Spanish market & tapas bar, Mercado Central, has recently expanded by opening a second location in Gowanus. We stopped in the other day and made a full girl dinner from the goodies we picked up – a fresh baguette, some Spanish ham, chips, and tinned fish. Stop by at 252 3rd Ave every day but Monday to shop or sit at the bar and sip!
Cobbler Bushwick
The newest place to buy shoes in Bushwick is doing something totally unique – resoling and upcycling sneakers using techniques typically reserved for the making of leather dress shoes. At Cobbler Bushwick you can pick up a pair of Puma soccer cleats that have been reworked with a cool chunky sole, or a pair of converse that feel more prepared for the snow than a pair of Doc Martens. Go check them out for yourself, and even bring in your own pair to be resoled Mon-Sat from 7:30a-3p at 764 Evergreen.
Give your Valentine the *coolest* bouquet in NYC this Valentine's Day. We've teamed up with our cool friend Molly Halpin, the founder of Brownstone Botanical, to offer this limited edition collaborative bouquet in our coolstuff.nyc color palette – a fun twist on Valentine’s Day classics!
This bouq is full of color, accented with lime green blooms paired with pinks and reds and wrapped in periwinkle blue.
Available for $65 in one size for pickup at the beautiful (and new!) Brownstone Botanical flower shop. Limited quantities are available, so pre-order a bouquet now until February 11th, then hop on over to the shop for pickup at 173 Green Street in Greenpoint on February 13th & 14th.
PS! For our special coolstuff readers…enter code “COOLSTUFF” at checkout for 10% off of the coolstuff.nyc Bouquet - good for today only!
Meet Carli, founder of The Libi Project—a mission-driven production and creative studio dedicated to uplifting emerging chefs, farmers, and producers. Through initiatives like Culinary Industry Nights, The Libi Project fosters collaboration and celebrates innovative, mission-driven work across the diverse F&B world. To further this mission, Carli developed First Course, a comprehensive starter pack that combines strategic insights, branding, and photography to empower culinary creatives and build strong brand foundations that reflect their passion and creativity. We caught up with Carli to hear how she became interested in the challenges and opportunities within the culinary industry and how she’s uplifting those around her with The Libi Project.
How did your career in the world of food & beverage begin?
My career in food started long before I ever thought of it as a career. Every single one of my birthdays revolved around food—while other kids were celebrating at trampoline parks, I was deep in a chocolate soufflé workshop for my 10th birthday. Looking back, I realize I wasn’t just fascinated by making something delicious, but by how food brings people together—how gathering around a table can spark curiosity, conversation, and shared joy.
That love for food deepened when I worked closely with Slow Food at UW-Madison, where I began thinking more critically about food systems, sustainability, taste education, and how food connects people across cultures. Later, I pursued a master’s degree at the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Italy, which broadened my understanding of the cultural, political, and social intersections shaping our global food system—insights that continue to guide my work today.
Returning to New York, I saw firsthand the gaps in the industry—especially the lack of accessible opportunities for food & beverage professionals, farmers, and producers to build more sustainable careers. That realization led me to explore new ways to support and uplift the people shaping our food system, ultimately inspiring the creation of The Libi Project.
Tell us about your mission-driven production and creative studio, The Libi Project! Why is its mission of uplifting emerging chefs, farmers, and producers important to you?
At the heart of The Libi Project is Culinary Industry Nights, an event series designed to bring together early-stage culinary entrepreneurs, food & beverage professionals, farmers, and producers in a more intentional way.
While food is inherently about community, people in the industry often work in isolation. Financial constraints, demanding schedules, and limited access to resources may make it difficult for culinary professionals to find mentorship, connect with like-minded peers, and grow their careers beyond traditional hospitality roles. Culinary Industry Nights break down these barriers, creating space for collaboration, career development, and exposure to mission-driven innovators shaping the industry. Beyond networking, these gatherings provide mentorship and long-term support, ensuring F&B professionals have the connections and resources they need to grow.
From this foundation, The Libi Project evolved into a production and creative studio offering branding, storytelling, and photography to help emerging food creatives define their identities, expand their reach, and build sustainable careers. At its core, my work is about honoring the people who nourish our communities—chefs, farmers, and producers who shape the way we eat, gather, and connect.
What’s your favorite part about the New York culinary community?
New York is a city where culinary tradition, entrepreneurial spirit, and innovation all collide—from corner bodegas and food trucks to Michelin-starred restaurants. With influences from every culture, it’s a place where food and creativity naturally intersect. What makes the food scene here so special is how chefs, food artists, photographers, writers, florists, stylists, producers, designers, illustrators, and mixologists—you name it—feed off this creative energy and cultural diversity to shape flavors, visuals, and experiences you won’t find anywhere else. The mix of talent, perspectives, and collaborations makes every meal more than just food—it’s an experience, a conversation, and a reflection of everything that I think makes this culinary community so exciting.
How did you come up with the idea to develop First Course, a comprehensive starter pack that combines strategic insights, branding, and photography to empower culinary creatives? Do you have any other extensions of The Libi Project in the works?
After producing the first few Culinary Industry Nights, I met many early-stage food entrepreneurs in The Libi Project community who had so much creativity, skill, and passion—but I realized that access to strong branding and photography often felt out of reach due to financial and time constraints.
With my multi-faceted background in the food space, a newly launched collaboration with graphic designer Sarah Bourge, founder of French Bre(ad) Studio, and my partner Omer Kaplan’s expertise in photography, we saw an opportunity to bridge that gap. First Course became the ultimate starter pack, equipping culinary creatives and early-stage entrepreneurs with the tools to define their brand, create a cohesive and visually beautiful brand identity, and turn their craft into a brand that fosters community.
Beyond First Course, The Libi Project curates bespoke, hands-on culinary experiences for private clients and brands. Through workshops and immersive activations, we create opportunities for authentic connection and cultural education through food and drink, partnering with passionate culinary and beverage experts to showcase diverse talents and artisanal traditions. These collaborations bridge the gap between New York’s vibrant food community and those looking to engage with it in creative and meaningful ways.
Do you have a favorite restaurant in NYC?
One of my favorites is The Four Horsemen—not just for the food, but for the entire experience. Everything about it feels so intentional and thoughtful, and the staff really makes you feel like one of them.
Their passion for wine education also takes the experience beyond a traditional meal—it’s not just about offering an extensive list but about curating selections that spark curiosity and conversation. The staff is incredibly knowledgeable, always bringing over a few bottles to talk about and taste, and they take the time to share stories of the makers behind the wines. It makes the whole experience feel more personal and connected to the people shaping what’s on the table. It’s the restaurant I always choose to celebrate at. :)
Follow Along:
@carligordon_
@thelibiproject
www.libinyc.com
La Cantine Winter Clothing Drive
La Cantine’s clothing drive is back! Throughout winter, you can drop off any unwanted clothing to the cafe. Please don’t bring damaged or dirty items, only bring what you would want to receive. PLUS! free drip coffee for each drop off :) Let’s keep this streak of helping others in need!
NY to LA Fundraiser Fair
This Sunday at Common Mollies in East Williamsburg, the NY to LA Fundraiser Fair will take place from 12-5p! Featuring drink specials from donor, Madre Mezcal, with 100% of proceeds being donated, this is a great time and place to shop artwork, clothing, books, and more from brands like Lisa Says Gah, Samantha Pleet, and more!
Cool Friend Jordan Sondler is popping up at Greenpoint’s Archestratus tomorrow, offering her ICONIC custom pet portraits. Sign up for a time slot, stop by with your furry friend then get your pet sketched by Jordan IRL! It’s all happening 11-4p.
PLUS! Jordan is offering a special 15% off discount code for coolstuff readers (that’s you!) when you order portraits off of Jordan’s site. Just enter COOLSTUFF15 when you check out :) Orders will ship in time for Valentine's Day delivery!
Believe it or not, we’re already a month into 2025…which means Valentine’s Day is in less than 2 weeks away! Seeing as there’s a fair chance you haven’t made plans yet, we’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite spots to spend the day of <3
P.S. Upgrade to paid to make sure you aren’t missing out on the rest of this newsletter including our favorite spots for V-Day restaurant pop-ups, Super Bowl snakcs, gallery openings &&& more!