“I’ve been doing flowers since my childhood in Paris,” says Yasmine Karrenberg, who officially launched Flowers by Yasmine a year ago (but who has been doing the flowers at Wallsé for 11 years). With help from Education Française à New York, the Tribeca mom also started the French After School program four years ago at P.S. 234 and this year at I.S. 89. “I thought it was important that my girls have this heritage. I’m so proud now when we go to France and they can laugh with their cousins and make jokes themselves!”

The TCQ&A rules: You can choose which of 45 questions you’d like to answer, but you have to answer questions one through four (and at least 12 total).

1. How long have you lived in the area? Where did you move from? Where are you originally from? We moved from Soho to Tribeca in May 2001, but originally from Paris.

2. Married? Partnered? If so, what’s his/her name and occupation? I’m single at the moment.

3. Kids? Pets? I have three daughters: 12-year-old twins Romane (I.S. 89) and Tess (Salk), and 9-year-old Lou (P.S. 234), as well as a Russian Blue cat called Sissy (who has the same birthday as Lou—July 14, just on time to celebrate Bastille Day!).

4. Where do you live? Duane and Church.

5. The best deal around: Chinatown!

6. Most-frequented restaurants: Odeon is always fun for birthdays and parties.

7. For special occasions, I go to: Locanda Verde—always a great crowd and a fun splurge. Also B Flat for jazz and old-fashioned crafted cocktails.

8. Best sandwich: Clementine. The people are always so lovely and Barbara has been a great friend for years. The hand-crafted sandwiches and soups are delicious!

9. Sweet-tooth satisfaction: The chocolate lollipops at Blaue Gans. Decadent!

10. Most delicious cocktail: The Bashful Maiden at Macao Trading was a delicious surprise (and a new favorite).

11. I usually order in from Gigino, and I always order the pizza margherita and penne a la vodka. Perfect for lazy dinners with the kids at home.

12. I can’t resist popping into: Calypso. Maybe they have a sale I can afford. I hope….

13. The last non-essential item I bought: Yet another DKNY handbag at Century 21. I can’t resist!

14. When I walk into my apartment, the first thing I see that I bought in Tribeca is: The cinnamon-apple granola from Whole Foods that’s always on my table.

15. I’m so glad Morgan’s is in the neighborhood, because without it I’d constantly be out of milk and flowers.

16. How I stay fit: Three kids, three different schools, and work in-between.

17. Where I get beautiful: Joey at Tortola on Ericsson Place—always a fantastic cut.

19. A recent enthusiasm: Pottery classes with Chambers Pottery. Our dishware has never looked so eclectic.

21. A recent case of sticker shock: A cute Crewcuts top for my 9-year-old for $98!!! Eek! Yes, I still bought it.

22. When my kids are older, they’ll always remember our friendly neighbors, who we can count on for good company.

23. Rainy-day activity: Family sing-and-dance-a-longs. It’s quite the show!

24. Advice for other parents: Get looped into Church Street School for Music and Art. The staff is fantastic and dedicated and Lisa always makes kids excited about art and music.

28. How does A Uno stay in business? They have great window displays but I’ve never seen anyone in there.

29. I tend to take out-of-towners to: Rockefeller Park.

30. I wish I lived in…. Anywhere on Staple Street. It just feels like old New York.

32. Pet peeve: Dogs using my plants for a bathroom.

33. If money were no object, I’d live in La Colombe d’Or in Saint-Paul-de-Vence in the south of France. The artwork and views are breathtaking and a constant inspiration.

34. A doctor I’d recommend: Dr. Cohen at Tribeca Pediatrics. He was really there for me when my twins were born.

35. My most memorable celebrity sighting: It was a long time ago, but I saw Suzanne Bartsch, Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Stephen Sprouse at Odeon.

36. A Tribeca celebrity I’d like to run into: I heard Daniel Craig just moved into the neighborhood….

38. Tribeca could use more flower shops and outdoor neighborhood cafés and fewer nail salons and chains.

40: A business I’d like to have here: I’d love to have my own flower shop here, with tea and cupcakes to please my daughters.

44. Proof that change is good: The turnaround of new people has brought a great energy to Tribeca, and for me a lovely international mix.

45. If I couldn’t live here, I’d live in…. In a rooftop penthouse with 360 city views… and a dishwasher!

46. I wish you had asked me about: Why I came to America, but that’s another long story….

Recent TCQ&As:
• Terri Pitts and Ivli Salman
• Peter Hannert
• Dan Kohn

If you want to suggest a TCQ&A subject, email tribecacitizen@gmail.com.