The Floral Escape: Spring 2021 Edition

The Floral Escape is a seasonally decorated pop-up, recently all decked out and newly re-opened two weeks ago in time for the spring-summer session and is running through August 1st. I visited and reviewed their fall edition last year which can be read here on my blog. Since then, this new pop-up has come out with a few different experiences; a holiday photo studio with different backdrops perfect for those holiday photos, a winter edition of the original pop-up venue at Queens County Farm (both of which unfortunately I did not have time to make it to but hopefully next time!), a New Jersey location, and most recently, this new spring/summer version of their Queens County Farm location. I love the rotation of these seasonal makeovers and hope they continue with new ideas and designs for backdrops.

It’s an Instagrammer’s dream with 15 different installations of backdrops to take photos and film reels and TikTok videos to your heart’s content. Similar to their fall pop-up, I found this spring edition to offer a lot of potential when it comes to photographs, from different angles, to close-ups or full backgrounds, there’s a lot of different ways to be creative with your shots. The downside is there is a limit of 3-4 minutes per installation if there’s a line waiting. In the fall I went on a weekend and it was CROWDED. The parking lot was near full and I had even gotten there early. This time, I went on a Thursday at opening and I was one of 4-5 parties there and there was ample parking - so much that I could park right next to the entrance gate to the exhibit. I had a much easier time not having to wait for my turn or feeling rushed. So my best advice is to go on a Thursday as early as possible if you can. The only unfortunate thing about going that early is that the lighting is harsh so it made it difficult for me to photograph all of the installations, as some of them were placed in direct sunlight with no shade. These are probably easier to capture in the late afternoon or on an overcast day. Photos here at golden hour are probably even more beautiful, but probably also hectic to achieve during a busier, more congested time. So my advice is to work quick if you’re strapped for time. And definitely plan out what you want to wear with each installation if you’re interested in multiple outfit changes for maximum content creation. There are no bathrooms or changing rooms on site and there is no re-entry upon exit to go back to your car to change, so plan accordingly. I saw some guests brought their own changing tents or simply strategized their outfit changes (big fluffy dress first, smaller pieces to change into afterward to simply pull over and then pull the dress out, etc)

I do feel like each installation was very similar, since it all centered around a garden theme. The fall theme I felt like there was more original and creative, different pieces that stood out apart from each other, but this is just my own opinion as I would have liked to see more pieces that were different from each other, like the giant pumpkin spice latte cup, the elephant, the butterfly wings, giant roses in front of the barn, the yellow wisteria and the tractor. The star of the spring show was the yellow taxi cab, which I wasn’t able to grab too great of a photo in since it was in direct sunlight and the lighting was harsh when I went. But my second favorite was the purple swing and the rainbow chairs, since the rainbow wall was again, set in direct sunlight. My advice would be to study their Instagram to get a feel for which installations you like and how you want to photograph each one as well as what you’d like to wear for each one, strategize how you want to tackle all the different spots and go from there, especially if you want to try and do them all. I originally wanted to do them all, but was strapped for time with other engagements in the dayand hindered by harsh lighting so I had to compromise and work with what I had. Overall, I still love the shots we were able to get.

The Floral Escape is located at 73-50 Little Neck Pkwy in Floral Park, NY. Admission cost is $20 for adults, $12 for children 12 and under, and free for children under 2. Tickets need to be reserved online in advance. Parking is free, but first come, first serve so be careful on weekends as the lot can get full very fast. It’s located at the Queens County Farm Museum, where entry to the farm grounds after you finish with the pop-up, is also free if you’re looking for more things to do while in the area. The Floral Escape is open Thursday to Sunday from 11pm to 5pm on Thu-Fri and 10am-5pm on Sat-Sun. Last entry is 4:30pm sharp, but I would definitely arrive as early as possible to give ample time to get your photos in. Masks are not required when taking photos, but are required when social distancing is difficult to maintain.

Have fun!

Photos by: VBS Portrait, Jason Laboy Photography & NYCTravelerTV

Spring Fashion Staples

Florals for spring? Groundbreaking.

All joking aside, I do wear a lot of florals but I honestly wear them all year round. I want to focus on a few spring items that you can find easily to freshen up your spring and summer wardrobe. And they don’t require breaking the bank for a whole new wardrobe or even if you just want to get a few new pieces here and there. And they can be easily incorporated into your summer closet as well! In recent years, New York’s spring season has only lasted for about a week on average. We shoot from 40s straight into 80s nowadays. Summer is well on its way but before it gets here.

  1. Straw boater hat - I’ve been really into these lately. They’re a little different from the regular straw floppy hat but something about them is really retro and cute. They make for a fun accessory in photos, as well as functional when Mr. Sun peeks his head out. I bought a bunch of different colored ribbons and bows from Walmart on the cheap (both ribbons and bows can be found in the craft section for $2!) and easily swap them out on my hat to coordinate with whatever color outfit I’m wearing for the day. I actually had a hard time looking for these hats last year but this summer looks like they’re coming into style. They have a few at Forever 21, Amazon, and Shein for a range of prices and slightly varied styles.

  2. Espadrilles - A classic sandal that will never go out of style. My best friend gifted me a pair of Jimmy Choo espadrilles when I graduated pharmacy school and I can tell you two things. First off, Jimmy Choo makes some good shit because I actually have worn them quite a few times and they still look as amazing as they did years ago when I first opened this box of my first ever designer shoes. The quality is amazing. Secondly, they still hold up to the test of time style-wise as they’ve been a part of so many different outfits and looks through the years. You can dress it up or down as they’re so versatile to a fun beachy look, casual stroll in the park or fancy brunch with the girls. And because this style is so popular, they come in a wide range of price points, from fast fashion brands to designer.

  3. Chinese umbrella - These are super cute to carry around and have for photos to match with your outfit as well as keep you out of the sun. They look fancy with any photo and they’re super cheap too for $5 in Chinatown, but can also be found on Amazon, and comes in a wide range of colors to match any cute spring outfit. I have one from years ago and started using them for shoots again and I’m wondering why I didn’t use this sooner as it’s such a great prop.

  4. Gingham - A classic that never goes out of style. It’s a busy yet simple print that photographs extremely well, always giving you a retro but classic look. I love all colors of gingham but I find primary colors are my favorites. I found this pretty red dress on Amazon and it comes in many classic colors as well. I’m loving gingham everything lately from dresses, tops, and cute sets.

  5. Yellow - I’ve been trying to wear more yellow recently. It’s such a pretty color when you can find it. Not that ugly mustard yellow but that bright sunshine yellow. It reminds me of the yellow dress Kate Hudson wore in How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days. It’s such an underrated color that you don’t see often. It’s really hard to shop for too but I’m consciously making an effort to try and find and incorporate more yellow into my wardrobe from cute tops to dresses and cute accessories. The right yellow will look beautiful on any skin tone, honestly.

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