Gotham Explorers

Blue

2012-02-07T20:03:00.007-05:00

a coach, a mayor, a governor, a manning and a few other important people

The 46th champion in Super Bowl history became the NY Football Giants on Sunday. The city that never sleeps managed to honor the newly crowned champions with a ticker tape parade less than 48 hours later. This morning Lower Broadway lived up to its title, the Canyon of Heroes. The last minute win by the Giants gave them the honor of becoming hometown heroes for millions. The crowds were thick and coated in blue. This February morning offered clear and mild skies. A lucky invite to a viewing party on the 4th floor of a building on Broadway gave me a lovely few of all the excitement. And the ticker tape raining down was so fun! Ticker tape parades are a special part of New York history and I can see why.

Great to see the players hopping off the floats and running to the crowds of people. The spectators ate it up.

Congratulations to the New York Giants. Thanks for giving NYC another reason to hold a grand parade.

January

2012-01-28T19:42:00.007-05:00

The month of January has been incredibly mild with the weather. To take advantage of the kind of, sort of, well for January anyway, warm sunshine we have enjoyed many weekend outings. We kicked the year off by getting a membership to the Wildlife Conservation Society. NYC is lucky enough to have five different wildlife parks. A few weeks ago on a 60 plus degrees Sunday we journey to Coney Island, home of the New York Aquarium. The walrus and the sharks were among our favorites.

Winter:Coney Island

Jaws meets Brooklyn

Today, the last Saturday of January, was a spectacular mid 40s with warm sunshine kind of day. One place was on our mind when we woke up and that was the always popular Central Park Zoo. While small in nature, the zoo is always filled with fun. The polar bears were sunbathing, the red pandas were enjoying some tree climbing and the snow monkeys were picking at each as only monkeys do. Winter days are the perfect time to visit the zoo.

April the sea lion:21 years old and still looking divine.

While our visits to Central Park have been plentiful there is still always something amazing about that oasis smack in the middle of Manhattan.

Is it really almost February?

looking back...

2012-01-06T17:15:00.001-05:00

just had a random thought about a truly great New York moment.

This winter has been mild so far. But if I have to do a blizzard, I want to do it this way!

2012

2011-12-31T21:42:00.002-05:00

In two hours we will be ringing in 2012. As the clock strikes midnight we will look out our windows and enjoy the fireworks near the Statue of Liberty. The night is clear and the vision should be incredible of Miss Liberty being showered in color.

Looking at the television the millions of hardcore revelers are packed into Times Square. It is an incredible event and provides an often once in a lifetime event.

The year of 2011 was good to us. Our fortunes have been good and we are blessed with health and happiness. Having New York as our home continues to be an amazing adventure. With the city as a backdrop it is beautiful to see our child learning and loving her hometown. Our neighbors and friends provide fun and love and support when needed. We have enjoyed shows, adventures, travels near and far, long days in the parks, fun soaking up the sun on the beach, and countless and varied activities. And my heart and knowledge always grows due to the lovely people I get to call my friends. As stated many times before one of my number one things I love about NYC is the diversity of the population. It provides with so much in so many ways. We are so grateful for all that we have and all that we get to do, see and be.

May your 2012 be all your wish for. Take care of yourself and others.

love

2011-12-31T21:38:00.000-05:00

a nod to our beautiful city

O Tannenbaum

2011-12-18T00:00:00.011-05:00

Christmas is one week away. NYC is bright and beautiful in her holiday glory. The store windows are filled with incredible displays, colorful lights are everywhere and Christmas trees are dressed to the nines. So far our favorite tree this year is at The Plaza Hotel. Decorated by designer Betsey Johnson, the tree is pink, feathery, glittery and topped with a giant Eloise. It was love at first sight. Eloise is a favorite character of ours and we love to envision her running the halls of the famed Plaza.

Another favorite tree we love to visit is in front of the New York Stock Exchange. While not as recognized as some of her famous neighbors, this tree is alway brilliant set on a peaceful street with lovely shooting stars on the lampposts.

Santa must be very busy this week getting things ready in the North Pole. I know many small New Yorkers that have warned their doormen of an impending visitor in red next weekend. From what I hear the reindeer love flying over Manhattan. The vision of the city from high above in the sleigh must be out of this world. And landing on these tall rooftops test their skills to the greatest extent.

1WTC is living in the spirt of the Christmas season by sporting multicolor gels on her construction lights. How wonderful this has happened. It was magical coming out of the subway and seeing this work in process shining brighty.

This picture does not due the colors justice. It is a thrilling vision and as a resident I am grateful to the electricians for making this happen.

Many Thanks

2011-11-25T22:17:00.015-05:00

The holiday season has begun officially for us. Wednesday we took in the beauty of Radio City with the Christmas Spectacular. The venue was as gorgeous as ever. The Rockettes were a sight to behold with their sparkly costumes, precision dancing and even a couple of new numbers. There is just something incredible about getting to enjoy a show in Radio City. The rich history and exquisite Art Deco detail always remind me that I am in a very special place.

Thanksgiving morning we headed to Midtown to enjoy the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Once again we took it in with a bird's eye view from the 17th floor. It is pretty awesome not having to deal with the crowds and 3.5 million of our closest friends.

Our favorite new balloon...Paul Frank's Julius. He looked shiny, new and happy to be taking in NYC with his jetpacks on back!

Our favorite float....Santa, always Santa Claus. Santa was looking healthy and ready for a great season treating good boys and girls. I know he has a very full plate this time of year but we sure are glad he takes time to enjoy a bit of NYC.

A very fantastic Thanksgiving feast was held at Ulysses on Stone Street. The food is tasty and dining with some of our favorite friends is priceless. Seven years we have had Thanksgiving in this exact setting and we cannot wait for seven more.

Always thankful.

Magical

2011-10-21T17:39:00.008-04:00

A beautiful picture of the amazing beach huts. I find them so curious and wonderful.

Sometimes the place you least expect you find a little magic.

We were introduced to the magical little place of Frinton-on-Sea last summer by a very dear friend. As luck would have it we got to visit this little wonderland again. Cannot wait to revisit again and again and again.

London fun

2011-10-18T16:11:00.012-04:00

family shadow on the Prime Meridian

picture perfect view of the dome of st. paul's while on the millennium bridge

a bench at our favorite playground at hyde park

royal observatory in greenwich

breathtaking rainbow over east london

Summer of UK

2011-10-11T17:13:00.010-04:00

a very special walk

st. paul's

picturesque aldeburgh

pebble beach in aldeburgh on the north sea

oui oui paris

2011-10-11T17:01:00.012-04:00

an incredible weekend in august with my two favorite people. Having not been to the city of love in 22 years, she was looking as lovely as I remembered. It was a special special weekend.

orange

2011-10-02T10:20:00.007-04:00

October has once again snuck up as only the orange filled month can do. September zipped by. The beginning of school, summer heat giving way to cool breezes, and everyone returning to beloved Manhattan after summer journeys.

In September we got the opportunity to visit the newly opened Memorial at the site of the WTC. For lack of words to ever do it justice I can say it was simple and powerful. Having been ten years since my feet last walked on that ground it was disorienting to a degree. My only hope and wish is that the families of victims find some peace. We walked around the footprints of both Towers while taking in name after name of all the victims.

*Mr West is the uncle of dear friends.

Now that Fall is entering it is fun to look around seeing apples and pumpkins everywhere. The appearance of orange is always the first signal that the holiday marathon is about to start. Totally ready for it. Bring it!

ten years

2011-09-10T18:08:00.001-04:00

This clip says so much. Not about terror, death or devastation...but just what was. Makes me sensationally happy that I got the opportunity to live in the shadows of such an icon.

Remember the victims, the families, the survivors...

Summer of '11

2011-09-06T07:10:00.003-04:00

Hard to believe it is September with the first day of school just two days away. The Summer of '11 provided us with beautiful travels and fun times. Catskills, Ft. Worth, Indiana and capped it up with a great time in the United Kingdom and even worked in a weekend in Paris. Our journeys were filled with joy, friends, adventure and often relaxation. One can only hope the exposure of these places will give our child important lessons and inspiration to carry through life.

Many pictures and thoughts to come...

Lone Star

2011-07-17T20:22:00.009-04:00

Ft Worth Cats established 1888

Quenching the thirst with Sonic.

Every single day 100 plus...

Tex Mex...always.

Fourth of July

2011-07-05T20:45:00.008-04:00

The long weekend took us on a wonderful journey to Sullivan County in the Catskills. Being Catskills rookies we were completely impressed with the beauty and vibe. Our lovely friends housed, fed and entertained us at their beautiful home on the banks of the Delaware. All of this is a little more than two hours outside of our little island of Manhattan. We even had the pleasure of a perfect fireworks extravaganza provided by neighbor of our friends. The show was off the charts of spectacular. And for we highrise dwellers it was the grandest feeling being underneath the fireworks and feeling the boom! The Best!

A lovely weekend with amazing friends in the most peaceful of settings. We definitely plan a return trip.

And as only the wonder of New York can provide this was one of our first sights upon re-entering the city.

The character of the land is always shining through. Sometimes it is visions like this that make me love it even more.

We finished off our most incredible Independence Day by stepping outside to view the annual fireworks provided by Macy's. For the second year in a row the Hudson River was the launching ground. We were worn out after the walk home after such a full weekend, but it was the best kind of exhausted there is!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Independence Day!

New York on Sunday

2011-06-26T21:07:00.004-04:00

The State of New York did it. Congrats to our former neighbor and current Governor Andy Cuomo.

Hi George. Even though Wall Street is right around the corner I don't find myself venturing that way too often as of late. Good to see George is still there and keeping things under control. He proudly stands in front of Federal Hall where he took his oath of office.

The New York Stock Exchange dressed up in her red, white and blue. Probably in anticipation of Independence Day.

Felice Giorno del Padre

2011-06-19T20:46:00.006-04:00

A day of perfect weather was a great way to celebrate Father's Day.
The journey started in the West Village and ended at Lot 30 of the newly expanded Highline.

Welcome to Rainbow City!

It is an amazing collection of spectacular inflatables designed by FriendsWithYou. Bright. Whimsical. Happy.

Always been a fan of the Highline. Learn more about it here!

Walking west on 30th a placard was discovered.

A great love of NYC is how a simple journey to a destination can offer a lesson in history. Who knew Abe was right there on 30th and 9th Avenue in good times and in sad?

Hope the day was incredible for all the Fathers and male role models out there. We are so lucky to have people like you to help us through life.

weekend snapshots

2011-06-05T18:54:00.005-04:00

Biking, Battery Park

Random Wig Shop, Flatiron District

Peonies, Tribeca

South Cove, BPC

USA

2011-05-30T12:07:00.002-04:00

moments ago outside my windows...

Memorial Day
NYC
USA

Thank you to all our Military. The greatest men and women in the world.

Manhattan

2011-05-19T15:24:00.000-04:00

The brilliance of Woody Allen. I never tire of this opening scene...ever.

CUB new york city

2011-05-19T15:15:00.000-04:00

Fun, lovely, happy...New York City! Awesome vid by Cub.

city snapshots

2011-05-19T15:01:00.009-04:00

Wafels & Dinges food truck...7th Avenue South, Friday night.

Congrats to the Royal Newlyweds...NYC loves a fairy tale.

Tasty treats and company...Ace Hotel, 29th St.

Queen Mary 2 heading to the other side of the pond...New York Harbor.

Anything Goes

2011-05-15T20:25:00.005-04:00

The Sondheim Theater was the place for us on a rainy Sunday afternoon. The Cole Porter hit "Anything Goes" was everything the critics have said and more. Joel Grey and the delightful Sutton Foster on stage together...need I say more? Took my favorite 8 year old and she was beside herself throughout. Sometimes one just needs to dive into a feel good musical. So many bring down the house numbers it is hard to choose just one. Of course "Anything Goes" as the close to the first act was the most incredible tap number. "Blow, Gabriel, Blow" was incredibly amazing and for a minute one might think the 4th wall was about to be broken. When Joel and Sutton were performing "Friendship" it was heavenly. Two amazing American talents of different generations on stage together was a superb vision.

Definitely a show to put on the "must see" list.
Look for "Anything Goes" to grab a few Tony's next month. Sutton is a shoe in for best actress!!

Closer

2011-05-11T18:11:00.000-04:00

finally? maybe?

2011-05-07T21:30:00.002-04:00

Are we finally over the hump? Are the frozen days behind us? Spring seems to be making her beautiful appearance and none too soon. The sunsets linger and are perfect. Flowers have sprung up through the ground surrounding us with vivid color. The trees and their hearty branches have are sporting fantastic shades of green. Winter was long. Winter hard. Winter was cooolllld. But all in all Winter was great.

That being said we are welcoming Spring with open arms. Restaurants have flung open their windows and sidewalk dining. Skin is showing up after hiding beneath warm outerwear. The water surrounding this most incredible island is filled once again with an assortment of sail boats. The fences protecting the grass have been taken down and everyone is enjoying the soft joy of barefoot in the grass.

The parks are alive. The people are alive. The city is alive. Welcome Spring.

Barbara

2011-04-06T19:48:00.010-04:00

Tuesday morning started off on the Upper Westside at the ABC Studios. Being in the audience at The View was the plan. Once again I must admit I don't watch daytime television so I am out of the loop but love going to tapings. The View is actually a live show so it had an even more fun dynamic. Walking into the studio and seeing the stage set with five chairs was jackpot central. It meant the one and only Barbara Walters would be there that day. I have been a long time fan of Ms Walters since I was about 8-years-old. The show was fun. Barbara was amazing. Eva Longoria was a guest so we walked away with her cookbook. Who knew? Oohhh and the Real Housewives of NYC were there. Bingo. Loads of fun and a lot of laughs. And did I mention Barbara Walters? She is gold in my book.

Miss Jackson

2011-03-20T11:25:00.006-04:00

Saturday night took us to the most beautiful Radio City Music Hall. The evening brought us the talents of Janet Jackson. Having not seen Janet live since early 2002, she was better than ever. Radio City was an amazing backdrop to Janet. It is a wonderful intimate concert venue. Janet took the stage at 9 pm and didn't stop until about 100 minutes later. She owned it. There aren't enough words!

Ahh and sweet Janet's encore was "Together Again" with photos on the screen of childhood photos with MJ. Spectacular.

Sold out and worth it!

march march march.

2011-03-13T21:12:00.004-04:00

Almost halfway through March and it is hard to believe. The winter has been cold and long, but always fun. The month of February brought visitors leading to nights out painting the town red. It also brought several days back to our roots in Texas while my other half was on the other side of the world more than 8,000 miles away.

The nights out on the town were grand. An evening at the roof at the Gansevoort reminded me that this is truly the city that never sleeps. With spectacular views and a fun group of friends it was a night to remember. This past weekend brought together a dinner to celebrate a birthday in the crowd. Pipa supplied the awesome food and drinks and the people supplied the fun. Around the table we have every corner of the World covered and the conversation was lighthearted and amazing. Diversity is a true blessing in this city. I love knowing some of my closest friends and I have virtually nothing the same in our backgrounds yet we find ourselves on the same pages of life. While hanging out under the glittery chandeliers of Pipa we had hours of conversation and delight.

This week will bring the annual St. Patrick's Day parade up 5th Avenue. If you have never seen this spectacular vision of greens floating up the Avenue you should check it out sometime. It is fun, crazy and full of Irish pride.

Japan, oh Japan. Much sympathy and concern for the devastation that has happened and continues to happen. All of our Japan based friends are accounted for and we are blessed. I can only hope for many miracles in the next few days.

cinquenta y seis

2011-02-04T18:18:00.003-05:00

What a winter! So far the little place of New York has measured in at 56 inches of snow this season. It seems about every five days we have been hit with a snowstorm and even some ice. The city is amazing when coated with fresh powder. There has even been an official snowday for the NYC public school children. It was a day filled with lots of sledding and lots of fun. It is a joy to watch the teamwork and collaboration that the kids do when developing the best "run" on the hills.

Of course there is a downside to snow in the city. We have tons of people, dogs, buses, cars, did I mention dogs, and just tons of things happening in general. In many spots that initial lovely white layer quickly changes from white, to gray to black. Oh and let's not forget the yellow. With the tremendous volume of snow this year the huge piles aren't melting anytime soon. Lucky for us there are still some relatively white spots in the neighborhood. That being said, I would highly recommend not eating the snow. Ekk. There is a lovely sort of peace when gazing out the window at a snow covered park. I will admit it blows my mind that I haven't seen a single blade of grass since our last day of visiting Texas on Dec. 31. More than a month and not a single vision of green.

Even with the gray, the black and the yellow I do enjoy being a city dweller when the weather turns snowy. I am tremendously thankful that I don't have to shovel, plow, blow or drive in the snow. I would be terrible at all of them. Bless all those that keep our streets and sidewalks clear. I do not want their jobs!

So 56 inches and counting...where will this winter top out? There is a few more inches of snow on the horizon for tomorrow.

Remembering the Miracle

2011-01-15T19:39:00.007-05:00

What a moment!

And the survivors.

NYC needed a miracle on that cold winter day and I am so thankful we got it. Thinking back to the moment a neighbor called and said there had been a plane crash in the Hudson. I was extremely nervous to turn on the news not knowing the cause. Thankfully the unknown can also bring happiness!

Holidays complete!

2011-01-03T11:46:00.007-05:00

The holiday season is never complete for me with out witnessing the home season of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. As I have mentioned before and will mention again Revelations is my absolute favorite piece of performance art.Revelations
I am a pretty lucky girl and get to see many fine things throughout the course of a year but nothing ever moves me as much as Revelations. I count many of Ailey's pieces as top notch but Revelations is his defining work. There are no words to tell how much this piece embraces me. A short film was shown this year on the the 50th anniversary of this magnificent piece of work.
Celebrating Revelations at 50 Film
The evening was perfect. It was a true blessing to take my favorite child in Manhattan to share in the beauty of Alvin Ailey and his dance. AAADT has now completed its home season and will hit the road. Their tour across the USA is something you don't want to miss. If it comes near your hometown you must go. Revelations might move you as much as it moves me! Enjoy.

Happy New Year 2011

2010-12-31T20:05:00.003-05:00

In a mere three hours the millions of spectators in Times Square will enjoy quite the spectacle. We downtown dwellers will enjoy the view on television while checking out sparkly fireworks outside our window. At least one New Year's Eve at the crossroads of the universe is most highly recommended. There is nothing quite like it. Even the television broadcast does not do justice for the energy that is there.

The year of 2010 was quite good to us. We have health, happiness and so many fortunes. Along the way we try to learn a little more about ourselves and those around us. Travels were plentiful this year and laughter was almost always around. We continue to be blessed with a wonderful life in the most beautiful of places. Our friends are our core here on this little island (and those far away.) Some have suffered tragic loss this year so we rallied around them. Others have had great joy so we celebrated with them. We know they are there for us so we shall be there for them. I constantly mention it but the warmth and knowledge I derive from friends is so very high on my list.

Throughout the year we had many loves. Visitors, shows, learning new things, great travels near and far, amazing new playgrounds, wonderful explorations, plentiful time with friends and family, blissful days on the beach, snowball fights in great blizzards, breathtaking sunsets, many colorful fireworks shows, watching our child grow in spirit and knowledge, daily seeing WTC One grow to half of her scheduled height, many jaunts across the most incredible Brooklyn Bridge, having a cousin who is living in this town and loves it as much as us, reconnecting with people and finding friendship deeper than ever,...and the list could go on and on. No complaints here. We are grateful for our many gifts.

May 2011 bring you much magic.

merry

2010-12-23T21:10:00.003-05:00

The month of December has flown by at record speeds. The holiday spirit is all around. The menorahs glowed at the beginning of the month and now the Christmas trees are bright with color. We have taken in much the city has to offer. The windows at Macy's tell the story of Virginia and the Miracle on 34th Street. The extra large tree at Rockefeller Center looks spectacular and sparkly as she should. The crowds have been thick but who wouldn't to spend the holidays in New York? Santa has been spotted out and about. Rumor has it the reindeer especially love landing on top of these really tall buildings we call home. The sound of lovely carols have been heard throughout. Two different musical events at the amazing Trinity Church have added to the fun. No complaints here. There is magic in the air and I like that. Christmas Eve will be spent venturing over to check out the tree in front of the NYSE. It is one of our local favorites. That evening treats will be left on the windowsill for old St. Nick and the doorman while have instructions to let any man in red who is ho ho ho-ing right on in the building. With no chimney we know a man as practical as Santa will come jaunt through the front door. Christmas morning will hopefully bring many delights underneath that tree. Later in the morning we will begin our journey to Texas to celebrate with family and long time friends. And by the time 2011 rings in we are scheduled to be cozy back in NYC. We believe and hope you do too!

Thankful

2010-11-25T23:24:00.009-05:00

We try to be thankful everyday and not just on Thanksgiving. Our day was beyond amazing. This morning started with the 84th marching of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. It was our first time to view the parade from above. One word...incredible.

Our favorite balloon of the day...Po from Kung Fu Panda. There was not a cuter panda to be found on this thankful Manhattan morning.

*that is not a tv screen, that is the window!

Our favorite float? Santa, always Santa. Even though we were 17 stories above him we could hear him ho, ho, ho-ing! He seems fit and in great shape and ready for his heavy work season.

Lunch was held at Ulysses as tradition continues. We took over most the restaurant with our circle of friends ranging from Colombia, Germany, the UK and this year....extra Texans in attendance. Even one cousin who has migrated to NYC and I think she just might stay as this little town has grabbed her heart. The flock of kiddos gobbled up their meals and took to the street for the annual game of tag.

Do we really have to wait an entire year for another day as great as today? I hope not! Thankfully.

And so it begins...

2010-11-24T20:33:00.005-05:00

the holiday season has officially started. The windows of some of the world's most famous department stores are glittery, the air is brisk and a very large tree will soon have her lights turned on. I can never pick a favorite season in NYC. But I have to admit is pretty darn cool being a resident of this little island during the holidays. Being able to take in every moment without time constraint is awesome, just awesome. I am not a Christmas junkie but I do like a taste of it every now and again.

Today we made our annual trip to the beautiful Radio City Music Hall. She took my breath away as always. The Rockettes were kicking, Santa was singing and live animals were on stage. The Parade of the Wooden Soldiers was once again performed as it does every year since 1933. When that golden curtain rises up one knows something pretty special is about to take place. The show did not disappoint. This is our sixth year in a row and I am looking forward to making it a forever tradition.

Tomorrow we will go on our Midtown jaunt for the Thanksgiving Day Parade. Started in 1924, the parade is at least a once do. Everyone seriously needs to witness it first hand...even just once. Of course being the parade lovers we are we go annually. Thanksgiving wouldn't be the same without it. This year will be a first for us. Instead of joining millions of our neighbors lining the streets we will be watching from above. Due to a shift in office locations we are going to be blessed with a view of the parade. I have to admit a few things. I am looking forward to being in a climate controlled atmosphere and not having to kindly elbow my neighbor a bit to get a better view. It won't be the same view but I am willing to switch it up a bit. I think I might just love it. Only tomorrow will tell.

Following the parade our annual feast at Ulysses will commence. Delicious eats, a beautiful array of friends and the annual game of tag for the kids are our favorite way to spend the day. We have endless amounts of people, things and opportunities to be thankful for. Always.

Happy Happy

2010-11-13T22:23:00.007-05:00

Birthday to my dear friend Hillary. She is the best. I missed her birthday by one day. Really? What on earth is wrong with me? Few things are as important as celebrating friendship.

In honor of the one and only Hillary click on her name for a p.a.r.t.y!

November...really?

2010-10-31T20:40:00.009-04:00

Man eating shark, Mushroom from Mario Bros, Rapunzel and a Vampire overlooking One World Trade.

October flew by at record speed. The weather gods were good and it was blissful weather. I dread thinking what winter holds before us. Halloween is now in the history books. It was lovely and lively as ever. A game of chase in an ancient graveyard with Alexander Hamilton's ghost nearby kicked off the weekend. Saturday held the annual party at the World Financial Center. It is a weird sensation that there is finally a shadow from the building of One World Trade Center aka Freedom Tower. Often I wonder if the kids of the neighborhood will realize what a special construction site they look over on a daily basis?

Halloween evening took us trick or treating through some of our very favorite residential buildings with some of our most favorite neighbors. It is on nights like tonight when I take a moment and think two thoughts. #1 being, "How did I luck out and get to live this life in the most incredible city?" and #2 being, "I have the most interesting people in my life as friends...see #1!"

November is here and will offer some of seasonal favorites on the agenda of NYC. Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, several fun birthday parties and some very special visitors. It looks to be another month that will fly by with many memories made.

Next Sunday will be the 41st running of the NYC Marathon. I have two beautiful friends in Johannesburg, South Africa that will be running the race. NYC is a place that they know well as it was their home for several years. Traveling 8,000 miles for a marathon is an incredible feat in itself. Not only am I excited to see them on their journey to the race but I am extremely proud of them. They are not just running for themselves, they are running to raise money for a program that promotes education throughout all of Africa. Go Mutsa and Blessing! I am honored to call you dear friends.

Sunny side of the street

2010-09-20T11:48:00.012-04:00

Life can be so sweet
On the sunny side of the street

Thank you Louis Armstrong for those wise words. Is it me or is there some Fall in the air? It is this time of year where I think by the simple act of crossing the street the temperature varies up to 10 degrees. Feeling a little warm...cross the street? On the other hand, feeling a little cold...go to the sunny side of the street.

September means many things. It means it is probably time to go ahead and store the beach goods for the season. (Although I am willing to admit we spent Saturday on the beach.) It means pumpkins are appearing in the store windows and at the local bodegas. And ultimately September for any person in Manhattan means gridlock. The United Nations General Assembly causes major road shutdowns. Check out this list! And anytime the US President or some of the other fellas are out and about it is complete shutdown, including pedestrian traffic.

Being NYC and all it is taken in stride. We stand on the corner being held back by the NYPD, we look at each other and bellyache and complain. We wait it out and complain some more. Eventually the motorcades pass and everyone moves on. The price of inconvenience is paid upfront in this town....but I'll take it.

Happiness is...bahn mi.

2010-09-15T19:15:00.005-04:00

September is treating us so kind in the weather category. Lunch today was at Saigon Vietnamese Sandwich Deli on Broome Street. Most parties enjoyed the bahn mi dac biet...aka the "house special." I selected the bahn mi chay and was not disappointed! We grabbed our sandwiches (that were priced oh so right) and headed out to the park. Sara D. Roosevelt park on the Lower Eastside was a beautiful place to spend the lunchtime. Perfect weather, perfect friends and perfect conversation. And for the record, the bahn mi was perfect!

Nine years later and New York is still the greatest city in the world.

2010-09-10T12:37:00.005-04:00

Too much going on this year that is taking the focus away from the families, the survivors, the people. Just remember the shock, the sickness, the sadness you felt during that awful September.

Click here, please

3, 471 miles

2010-09-07T16:37:00.008-04:00

The middle to end of August the other side of the Pond was calling our name. Nine days in London was the perfect way to cap off a beautiful summer. We took in all the sights, enjoyed the city and found a place that we truly enjoyed. As "liveable" as I find London I am willing to admit I am not sure I could handle the lack of sunshine on a daily basis. London has only been a fly-through city for me so it was great fun exploring and learning more about it. A super enjoyable day was spent visiting an amazing friend in Colchester. The day ended by taking in the lovely coastal town on Frinton on Sea. Aren't these beach huts picture perfect? I can only imagine how fun they must be when it is high tide.

Our favorite UK park...St. James's Park. Green, beautiful and full of interesting birds. That is Buck Palace just above it.

Some time spent in Constable Country on the border of Suffolk and Essex was inspiring. Easy to see how the breathtaking countryside inspired hometown artist John Constable to pick up the paintbrush!

Good, good times.

Ahhh, Summer

2010-08-18T19:42:00.010-04:00

Summer is flying by. It has been one of many travels but making time for fun in our favorite hometown on New York. Some of our annual events have happened...Swedish Fest, family dances at North Cove, excursions to our favorite beach in Jersey and our beloved drumming circles at Wagner. We have appreciated new and innovative playgrounds. The very favorite being Imagination Playground. Collaboration is the key and a fantastic one at that. Love it.

We have traveled to Texas and ate bbq and Tex-Mex to our delight. We traveled to the heartland of America in Nebraska and visited with friends that are family. Tomorrow's travels will take us across the pond to London. We are thrilled to explore what is the hometown of many of our NYC friends. We have a list of tips and insight to fill our days.

Is it possible the sun is already setting earlier to signal that Fall is not far off? The school bell will soon be ringing but not before we enjoy the last weeks of a blissful summer. Fall looks to be promising and the visitors list is growing.

Have you ever seen the sun set over the Hudson River? It is a moment that evening after evening takes my breath away.

Smoke On

2010-06-19T18:42:00.009-04:00

We lucked out today with tickets and ferry passes to the Red Bull Air Race. Having only very recently even heard of this sport we were thrilled to go check it out. A neighbor rang our doorbell at 10:30 am today and said, "Get dressed and go to the race!" We followed her orders and it was great. If you aren't familiar with the Air Race check it out here. These are some of the best pilots in the world! They must also have an extreme personality to do the things they were doing.

The Air Race was an easy and quick commute via ferry. Landing in Jersey City it was Red Bull City plus. It is a top notch affair and the marketing and branding was brilliant. Three giant grandstands were set up just feet away from were the race was taking place. The majestic NY Harbor was the race site. Giant floating inflatable pylones are set up as an obstacle course for these incredible fliers. Pre-race we saw the tricked up Red Bull Helicopter. Ever seen a helicopter do back flips? It was very cool and crazy sight to see an aerobatic helicopter. Other festivities included plenty of parachuters, great music and some fun activities for the kids. Guess what the only cola available on premises was? You got it! Red Bull.

After taking our seats in the grandstands we were anxious to get the race on. The announcers were amazing at educating us on the race we were witnessing. My favorite bit of lingo from the day is most definitely "Smoke On" It was the last thing said when the airplanes dropped into race position. These little planes fly through the starting gate at more than 220 mph. It was pure adrenaline watching these planes flying at you just 10-20 feet above the water

The tickets were such a lovely surprise from a lovely neighbor. We were thrilled to check out the fun! Our favorite racer...Kirby Chambliss.

Smoke On!

Applause

2010-06-09T19:08:00.016-04:00

I have to admit the past year I have been partaking in some fun free entertainment....as a studio audience member. Fortune has given me the chance to see Martha Stewart (3 times!), Dr. Oz (never had heard of him and quickly discovered he has a cult-like following), The Marriage Ref, Carson Daly's New Year's Eve Special (blogged about in December), The Late Show with David Letterman and today I found myself at a taping for CBS Morning Show with a Christina Aguilera concert. All and all, not bad for my rookie year of a "studio audience member."

photo compliments of Mrs J. Brown

I have learned a few things, enjoyed watching the logistics of the shows and even scored some fun giveaways along the way. Martha Stewart is by far the easiest experience. She has her own compound. The line moves quickly, there are seats while waiting and they typically move you into the studio without much wait. And Martha has some great audience giveaways. Martha is definitely an awesome business woman and it shows. She is also humorous and very becoming in person.

The hardest audience experience are shows that tape at 30 Rock. I would chalk most of it up to the fact that there are a billion things going on in that complex so logistics are a little more difficult. Audience members are lined up and held for pretty long and typically moved to another area with some hurry up and wait. That being said I thoroughly enjoyed the Marriage Ref. Not so much for the show itself but the fact Jerry Seinfeld spent some time chatting with the audience. Pretty cool.

Letterman was awesome because he is Letterman! That experience was easy and fun as well since he has his own studio. Making the experience even better was we had "group tickets" so it was fun to be with ten of my favorite people.

Get studio audience tickets if you have a chance. Wear comfortable shoes, relax during the waiting part and sit back and enjoy the show! It's free...does it get any better?

So close...

2010-06-01T20:33:00.017-04:00

Summer time is nearing. Manhattan is spectacular in the spring but I am ready for the sun! This month Brooklyn called our name three times and Staten Island and Queens earned our attention once. The "other" boroughs seem far away but in reality they are our next door neighbors. As prior post show I do have some love for Brooklyn, particularly the beaches. With family visiting we took an express bus and landed in Coney Island mid-May. It was a pleasure to show off the wild world of Coney Island. After a enjoying the views on the boardwalk we stopped in and said hello to Lola Star. Lola is a fixture in Coney Island and breaths her fabulous soul and spirit in her boardwalk store. Make sure you stop in someday and check out Lola, Shimmer and the pink feather walls. After the smaller visitors took in a ride at Deno's Wonder Wheel we all gathered and enjoyed the fare at the famous Nathan's.

Memorial Day weekend led some of us to Staten Island for a baby shower. Having only driven across Staten Island this was technically a first visit. The celebration was truly one of a kind. If you have never been to an Albanian baby shower you might put it on your list of "totally incredible things I have never been a part of!" The shower started at noon and went non-stop until 5 pm. The only reason the party ended was because the dj had another gig. Yes, I said dj. Not only did this baby shower offer a dancefloor, it offered two singing djs. Does it get any better? Amazing Albanian disco and pop blared and the circle dances were continuous. Needless to say it was a pleasure to be one of three non-Albanians invited to this incredible affair. The best piece of knowledge I gained was that Albanians like to mix red wine with Coca Cola. You read that right. Awesome. They even have a pop hit about that very subject. I have been to a lot of baby showers in my life but nothing even remotely close to this one. It was incredibly fun and an honor to be a part of these party people.

Brilliant sunshine begged us to go out and soak in the rays on Memorial Day. Once again we hopped on an express bus and ended up in Brighton Beach. Having just discovered this little beautiful neighborhood in the spring it was a pleasure to be back. The sand was clean and the people bright. Colorful swimsuits were sported by people of all ages in this most agreeable weather. Russian is what we heard from at least 90% of the beach dwellers. While partaking of vitamin D my mind wandered to the older folks on the seaside and wondered if their minds wandered to their days on the shores of the Black Sea? And how fun that the public restrooms (yuck, but necessary for days on the beach) were dolled up in artificial flowers and pictures of American presidents. Cannot vouch if the mens room was the glitzed up as well.

Last but not least May led us to the discovery of Jamaica Bay. To be honest it was a classroom field trip and bus ride courtesy of the NYC Dept of Ed that led us there but wow what a place! For those not in the know NYC is a huge spot for birding particularly during spring migration. Birding could be a post all its own. Jamaica Bay is the most important birding spot in NYC. More than 300 birds have been spotted at this bird sanctuary. The osprey nest was a huge hit among the shorter crowd. Glossy Ibis, yellow warblers, tree swallows and the ever popular cedar waxwing were oohhed and awed over. I have to admit that birding can become addicting. It is quite the exercise in patience yet being on top of your game. Jamaica Bay is the most important urban wildlife refuge in the country. I am looking forward to visiting it again in the near future. What a beautiful natural treasure within the world of New York City.

Summer is so close we can taste it.

Bring on the Summer.

no passport needed

2010-03-20T17:47:00.012-04:00

The beautiful weather led us to journey outside of Manhattan. And as luck would have it the Q train deposited us right in the middle of Brighton Beach otherwise known as Little Odessa. Every nook and cranny is Russian. Every sign is in Russian. Every conversation we attempted to eavesdrop on was in Russian. Every restaurant was well, Russian. It is incredible and certainly deserves a complete day of its own tour.

If we had not already promised our smallest traveler a trip to the infamous Nathan's down the boardwalk in Coney Island we definitely would have dined at the this place! It is right on the boardwalk and looks to be not only delicious but filled with great characters as well. It has been bumped up to the top of "Must do in Near Future" list.

After a cold, snowy, wet, did I mention cold, snowy, cold winter we were soaking in every ounce of sunshine available. We walked to Brighton Beach's most eclectic neighbor...the one and only Coney Island. As previous posts mention, I heart Coney Island. The color, the sounds, the people, the smells make it truly one of a kind. Even on this random warmth of a mid-March day the boardwalk was alive and filled. Nathan's had many people in line to enjoy the birthplace of the famous hot dog. It was as if a huge winter cloud had been lifted...and it had!

While the sand in Coney Island is not the greatest we took direction from the sun and enjoyed a view hours of the beach.

Kites were flying, children were playing and the waves sounded like true music to our ears.

This week's forecast doesn't look so grand. After discovering a new place to check out (Brighton Beach) and soaking up some delicious rays of goodness from the sun I think we just might be able to make it through. Spring has to be on her way right?

District of Columbia

2010-03-02T19:28:00.004-05:00

Last weekend we headed to Penn Station and hopped on Amtrak to Washington, DC. Three hours later we were smack in the middle of our Nation's Capital. It has been eight years since last enjoying DC. It is a lovely place. The entire area was still wrapped in a thick blanket of snow. The white made some of the sights even more spectacular. Thomas Jefferson was thick with the white. The Korean War Memorial was even more realistic with the soldiers trudging through the heavy white. As a daughter of a veteran it made it even more touching. When reading about the Korean War there is always mention of the terrible winter conditions. Seeing the statues in that exact climate makes one reflect even deeper on what these men did for our country.

On our trip to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum we had the honor of the seeing the ground breaking Tuskegee Airman. It was quite a lasting lesson and they looked spry in their red coats. The notorious Abe Lincoln had a breathtaking view of a frozen solid Reflecting Pool. We spent many a fun moment taking the opportunity to walk and play on the frozen water in the shadows of our Nation's treasures.

Sunday morning we started the day in the Sculpture Garden of the National Art Gallery. The whimsical and thought provoking pieces were amazing. And who knew our second grader could give us a lesson and insight on the works of Claus Oldenburg?

Georgetown, Embassy Row, the National Cathedral were all taken in with oohhing and ahhing by us. The trip was made even better by a tasty Italian meal and chin-wag evening with a dear friend.

It had been too long since we enjoyed DC. It will now be a more regular journey.

tempesta di neve

2010-02-10T20:44:00.005-05:00

Ahh, the first blizzard of 2010 greeted NYC today. The forecast was right and the snow had continued to pile up all day. No complaints here. City living is very lovely in the snow. We can be lazy and play inside while someone else shovels and plows. Living vertically does have its benefits. Yes, we know the next several days will be filled with the not so pretty yellow and gray snow. Hopefully it will disappear quickly.

To continue our tradition of going out in blizzards we headed to the Beacon Theater on the Upper West Side. Cirque du Soleil was offering an open rehearsal of their latest show Banana Shpeel. We got there in time but the crowd was lined up around two blocks. It was great to see people come out in the worst of weather to catch a glimpse of artists truly honing their craft before show opening. We spent the afternoon in awe taking in the talent in the rawest form. We feel fortunate to catch a behind the scenes view of what it takes to make a spectacular end product.

All and all our first heavy snow of the new year has been nice. Bloomberg and Klein surprised us all by canceling school...that never ever happens. So far tomorrow looks to be back on schedule. We hope the weather does clear. We plan to head to our very own nation's capitol of Washington, DC. They are filled to the brim with snow, so we shall see.

Stay warm.

2010

2009-12-31T22:05:00.005-05:00

Happy New Year! The countdown is a little less than two hours away. We have done what is becoming tradition of "pre-celebration." A dozen NYC families gathered at a little eatery this evening to celebrate how great 2009 was and how wonderful 2010 looks to be. While the year has offered many changes for several families we all feel blessed with happiness, health and typically good times. The kids enjoyed games and imagination while the adults held lovely conversation. Something about the warmth of friends makes life extra good.

We are tucked in for the night and will look out our windows when the clock strikes midnight. The view of fireworks over Miss Liberty are always a sight to see. It is a mix of rain, snow and sleet tonight but he colors will be bright and lovely. We were fortunate to go to the pretaping of Rihanna and Jay-Z last week so it will be fun to check it out on tv.

Enjoy 2010. Take care of people.

Perfect

2009-12-20T07:33:00.007-05:00

photo-kb photography

1000 crazy people...check!
Blizzard conditions...check!
Standing outside for three hours...check!
Rockefeller Center Plaza....check!
Mini concert by Rihanna...check
Special appearance by Jay-Z...oh yes!

Last night was one for the books. We scored tickets to a pre-taping of Rihanna for the New Year's Eve Special. The location was the plaza at Rock Center. What they hadn't planned on was white out conditions with a blizzard. It made it even better and memorable in my eyes. Yes, it was freezing. Yes, there were moments I couldn't feel my toes or fingers. But when Rihanna started and Jay-Z appeared life was good, really good. It was awesome. Sometimes there just aren't words. Pounding snow and all I will never forget the moment when one of the most incredible hip hop artist ever walked on stage. Something about New York in a blizzard is magical.

Serving NYC since 1933.

2009-12-19T12:41:00.005-05:00

The Parade of the Wooden Soldiers by the fantastic Radio City Rockettes is a grand tradition for the city of New York. This particular number is in it's 77th year of dazzling people from not only NYC but around the world. Thursday we took our annual (although late, we typically we hit it up before Thanksgiving) journey to Radio City Music Hall for the Christmas Spectacular. She was looking as lovely and pretty as ever. Each year there is something slightly different but there is always the Parade of the Wooden Soldiers. Why mess with perfection? We love every moment of it but the Wooden Soldiers is the number we most look forward to. The Christmas Spectacular has a touring group but honestly to see the amazing Rockettes in their homebase is something to put on your list. The plush seats, the Art Deco decor, the Wurlitzer organs, Santa and the Rockettes all mixed together is the only way to ring in the Season.

Merry Christmas.

NYC Thanksgiving

2009-11-26T17:30:00.011-05:00

What a day! Our morning outing took us to 41st and 6th Avenue to catch some of the wonderful Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. A new route provided us with a different viewing spot that was even better. Mingling amongst three million other parade lovers is the only way we can imagine kicking off Thanksgiving Day.

Our favorite balloon this year was Buzz Lightyear. Maybe it was the new backdrop of 6th Avenue that made him look better than ever.

Our favorite float...Santa, always Santa. For the first time in 40 years Santa had a new sleigh. Even in a recession I think a man as lovable as Santa deserves an upgraded ride.

Thanksgiving meal took us to our annual lunch gathering at Ulysses. Doesn't get any better. Great food, great setting and the best company in the world. The party of 19 included some of NYC's coolest kids. After gobbling down their lunch they adjorned to Stone Street for their traditional game of tag. Our table had Germany, Colombia, Italy, Texas, Michigan and Illinois represented. Life is good and we are thankful.

The streets are paved with diamonds and there is just so much to see. But the best thing about New York City is you and me...Cub

Many Thanks

2009-11-25T17:56:00.002-05:00

Is it really already Thanksgiving again? A schedule change this year has us attending Radio City in December versus our usual visit which would have been today. November is flying by. Every weekend has been filled with birthday parties of some of our favorite kids in this town.

This month also provided the opportunity to be a studio audience member at Dr Oz as well as Martha Stewart. It was quite interesting since as luck would have it we attended the tapings on consecutive days. Martha wins for an easier experience. Very smooth process and she does a live tape so the hour flies by. Dr. Oz tapes at 30 Rock so the logistics are entirely different and there are re-takes. Either way both shows were a blast and in wonderful company. At Dr. Oz we did score front row seats on the center rotating platform. Completely fun and we had many laughs that day just taking it all in.

Tomorrow we will journey to Midtown to check out the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. It is an insane crazy experience with the massive crowds but we keep going back for more! Maybe we are just that crazy. Our traditional outing to Ulysses will provide the eats and backdrop for lunch with friends from across the planet. Every year it just keeps getting better and better.

We are lucky. Very lucky. Have a great Thanksgiving. We are thankful for you.

Octobre

2009-10-14T19:49:00.007-04:00

After a very brief Summer, the season of Fall has arrived. Fall provides lovely orange hues in the boxes of pumpkins outside the bodegas in every neighborhood. Fall also ushers in many restaurants switching over their menus. Take for example the cozy Las Ramblas tapas bar on W. 4th. A baked pumpkin stuffed with manchego, shrimp and spices. Las Ramblas is a sliver of a restaurant in the Village. Their eats are authentic and make one daydream of eating tapas on the Ramblas in Barcelona....another one of the most magnificent cities in the world.

Hello Fall!

eight years

2009-09-10T21:58:00.002-04:00

and it often feels like yesterday.

tears

Sugar fun=LES

2009-08-23T07:03:00.004-04:00

Everybody ought to have a lower East Side in their life. Irving Berlin

A spontaneous outing with our neighbors took us to the Lower East Side. A quick journey on the M9 deposited us in the thick of things. Just after a few blocks we spotted a Mexican restaurant "El Sombrero"...that apparently lived its former life as The Hat Diner. While the meals weren't exactly what we had been hoping for it was pleasurably. A short walk down the street led us to Creperie at 135 Lulow. While the place is merely a step up from just a counter the offerings were delicious. After downing two crepes between the four of us we headed on.

Just around the corner is the mecca known as Economy Candy. The Browns had never been here before and it had been a while for us. This store is a sugarfest exploded. While not fancy like some uptown candy stores, Economy will bring back memories of your childhood. After loading up on cherry sours, Bit o' Honey and a candy necklace for the youngest we left before we went into a sugar coma just looking at the items.

What is the best place to go after going having crepes and buying candy? A bakery of course! Having enjoyed the treats from Sugar Sweet Sunshine in the past we decided to stop in to pick up some items for later. While these are not my favorite cupcakes in the city overall any cupcake is a good cupcake in my book. Rumor has it their banana pudding is quite tasty.

To override all the sugar we had visited the Browns stopped in the famous Katz deli to pick up some pastrami for the meal the next day. If pastrami is what you are looking for this is the best game in town. Katz has been serving up this yummy meat since 1888. We opted to hang out front and enjoy the street theater taking place while the Browns got their goods inside. The corner of Houston and Ludlow is a quite intriguing corner to stand and watch the world go by.

Happy Birthday

2009-07-04T21:59:00.011-04:00

Ahh, the 4th of July.

Not a day is more a celebration of America. As good as life is to us we are blessed by overlooking Miss Liberty everyday. A day never passes without being thankful for this glorious picture. She is a a true vision. Tonight we celebrated the most American of holidays with some of our very favorite neighbors. The sounds of our homegrown TriBattery Pops offered us great tunes led by the one and only Tom Goodkind.

With the fireworks lighting the sky over the Statue we are always reminded what a great country we live in.

Midsummer

2009-06-19T21:36:00.006-04:00

Lower Manhattan is home to one of the largest Swedish Midsummer Festivals in the world. Usually somewhere around 5,000 people gather in the picturesque Wagner Park to partake in flower wreath making, the raising and dancing around the maypole, singing, and an abundance of Swedish eats. As one of the most major holidays in Sweden the entire park is filled with ex-pats, local neighborhood regulars and people from throughout NYC.

Summer here in New York has not been pleasant weather wise. Too much rain, too many clouds, too chilly. The temperature was absolutely perfect for this colorful celebration. The entertainment was joyful, the flower wreaths were beautiful and the company was extraordinary as always. In my book Wagner Park is one of the most spectacular public spaces in the world so it is hard to go wrong attending any event there. Fiddlers filled the air and Swedish smiles were plentiful.

Sunshine in the rain

2009-06-06T21:55:00.005-04:00

Friday's weather felt more like a rainy chilly Fall day. It rained all day long. Nothing could stop our party of seven from a jaunt to the Village. A krewe had gathered to celebrate the recent achievement of a Columbia grad.

Pesce Pasta Trattoria at Bleecker and Cornelia proved why it gets great reviews. The setting was dark and cozy yet not too quiet. While the menu is not extensive it is spot on with a little something for everyone. The food was great and the company proved to be fantastic. Make sure and check out the line up of antipasta displayed in the window. Apres dinner we took a quick walk in the rain to enjoy the delectables at Sweet Revenge.

While the evening was beautiful and happy we were all holding back some sadness as we know the next time we gather will be to bid bon voyage to our friend as she and her lovely family start a new journey in South Africa. NYC is often a transient community. This summer it seems to be hitting hard as we will watch five families take on a new challenge in different cities and countries. It is my wish that all these friends take a bit of New York with them. And when they return whether it be for a visit or to reside that they feel as if they are coming home.

Friday

2009-05-09T08:44:00.010-04:00

A botched forecast actually led us to spectacular weather. We are still looking forward to a string of Spring days.

Some images from a Friday evening filled with wanderings, new sights, and constant reminders of why this is our home.

Lillie's-a wonderful new pub on 17th Street.

Stuyvesant Square, serving NYC since 1850.

Bar Carrera, 175 2nd Avenue. Beautiful, dark, perfect. Try it.

Arch at Washington Square Park. This park offers a bit of everything imaginable.

Here's to Spring...

Street Fest

2009-05-03T08:38:00.006-04:00

Each year NYC provides the backdrop for an assortment of street festivals. While each festival is for a different occasion or organization and often seem all but the same there is one stand out. The Family Festival Street Fair hosted by the Tribeca Film Festival is the creme de la creme. Greenwich Street in Tribeca is the setting and the day always offers a few surprises. Close to 200, 000 people jam the street to take in the offerings. This year did not disappoint. Shrek, the Broadway musical got the freak flags flying. An appearance by the newly updated "Electric Company" reminded us times have changed since we last watched the shows. The vendors are great and offer amazing activities for the kids. Mr Met even put in an appearance although it was hard to get some hardcore Yankee fan kids to even acknowledge him. Best of all was the chance to go to the screening of Winter's Tail. Held in a private screening room tucked above Bobby D's Tribeca Grill the short version held the children entranced.

Scenes from the Family Festival Street Fair...

The most important event was a bone marrow donor drive. Neighbors flocked to this event. No one was too important for this drive...super models, award winning actors and even the FDNY. This event was held in honor of one of Lower Manhattan's favorite kids. Check out hopeforkai.com Maybe it is time you register?

And how was your Easter?

2009-04-21T20:09:00.014-04:00

Easter was windy yet lovely on the streets of Manhattan. As always the day took us to wander through the crowds on Fifth Avenue. Gotham City did not disappoint at the Easter Parade. The hats and the attire were of brilliant hues as if begging Spring to make an appearance. Some of the our favorites were there...the Metrocard hat builders, the Rainbow Man and his Rainbow poodle, a beloved facepainter. Some new favorites appeared.

How is this for your Sunday best?

A bunny version of NYC's most recent miracle...

The Easter/Passover break brought several visitors to New York. It was an eating extravaganza. Some of the cuisines included French at Jacques, Ukrainian at East Village Ukrainian Restaurant, Chinese at Wu Liang Ye, Peruvian at Mancora, incredible pasta at Tanti Baci, Korean at Seh Ja Meh, and with the best waterview in Manhattan at Gigino. A world of foods that were all perfect. New York loves food! One hysterical fun night at Marie's Crisis made great by some visitors from the other coast. They loved every moment of that tiny little basement bar.

Our holiday was bliss. Hope yours was the same.

Down with it.

2009-04-04T18:42:00.016-04:00

That is not snow or blur. It is the tiny feathers from the thousands of pillows!

Today marked International Pillow Fight Day. Who knew? Cities across the planet participate in this display of good old fashioned fun. The NYC event took place on Wall Street at Broad. Right in the shadows of the New York Stock Exchange and the super large statue of George Washington standing proudly on the steps of Federal Hall. Thousands of participants showed up to join in the festivities. The start time of 3 pm led to a sight not often seen on Wall Street. Wall Street has an extensive history but "major pillowfight" not being one of them until today.

Police barricades blocked off the area so latecomers joined in by having mini outbreaks of the mayhem on various surrounding blocks.

Even though the weather was windy and cold the spirit was bright and sunny. Spring has to be around the corner...maybe. This winter has been brutal.

bAm!

2009-03-22T19:57:00.005-04:00

Saturday afternoon the uptown M22 had a rough day.

Mental note...do not park illegally.
Mental note #2...if you do park illegally a Smart Car might be a good idea.

Big Easy

2009-02-17T22:33:00.010-05:00

A quick getaway from the February winter led us to New Orleans. Stepping into New Orleans is a testament to a great American city.

The food, the music, the people, the heritage are all unforgettable. We stayed on Bourbon, explored the Garden District and listened to some serious tunes in the Faubourg Marigny/Bywater neighborhood. In one word, it was perfect. Not our first trip to New Orleans and certainly will not be our last. It is a city worth your time.

"

"Dear almost Swiss looking Jesus"....

2009-02-06T23:45:00.019-05:00

Ahh, the words of the one and only Will Ferrell. I heart Will. It has been high, high, high on my list in life to see Will Ferrell and his brilliance.

As luck would have it "You're Welcome America. A Final Night with George W. Bush" made its way this week on the Great White Way. In his Broadway debut Ferrell brought down the house. The show is silly classic Ferrell humor but completely enjoyable. Ferrell has perfected his Bush impersonations through his years on SNL. There were so many moments in the show that all one could do was bust out laughing.

We were a group of four Texans now transplanted in NYC. Perhaps we found the humor even deeper since we have been surrounded by Bush for what seems like a lifetime. The show had the highest presale of tickets of any this winter. Now it is next to impossible to score a seat except through a broker. Thankfully our friend and neighbor KB was on top of his game and we lucked out.

For 90 minutes Ferrell takes the audience through Dubya's life. From the opening voiceover of Dick Cheney telling us what we could do with ourselves to the final scene of Ferrell popping open a cold one, I laughed the entire time.

At the end of the show Ferrell encourages the audience to ask questions while answering in the role of George W. One audience member asked, "Was the presidency hard?" Ferrell answered, "Well, being president was kind of like driving a car. The first time you are really scared and then you never think about it again." nuff said!

If you don't live in NYC make sure to mark for calendar your March 14. HBO will be doing a live telecast of the show! Check out details here.

There is so much to say about this show but I will leave you with one final thought....Diego Luna.

Tease

2009-02-04T14:25:00.005-05:00

Coming Friday, February 6th!

Sweet Life

2009-01-31T08:39:00.014-05:00

Twill make old women young and fresh,
Create new motions of the flesh.
And cause them long for you know what,
If they but taste of chocolate.
~James Wadworth

Cupcakes have always been a favorite in NYC. Perfect size and edible without utensils. That being said I love cupcakes. I am willing to say of bakery cupcakes I would nominate Tonnie's as my favorite. Well...my cupcake experience has been taken to a new level. A Village find of Sweet Revenge. Nestled on the corner of Carmine and Bedford the scene is warm and inviting. A motley crew of nine moms celebrating the Aquarians in the crowd gathered to check it out. Marlo, the owner, has a pleasing personality and was holding down the fort solo for much of the night. Did I mention it was packed? We started with wine, champagne and some lighter weight beverages. Delightful cheese plates and savory cakes soon followed. To cap off the night we had to indulge in cupcakes. In order to experience all the goods we asked for a flight of cupcakes. Crimson and Creme, Carrot, Pure Vanilla, Dirty (chocolate) were hard to rank because they were all amazing. There is still an assortment of flavors to check out. Definitely will be back.

If your post dinner plans find you on Carmine check it out. Or better yet, start at Sweet Revenge. Dessert is often meant to be eaten first...right?

Manhattan weekend

2009-01-19T21:34:00.004-05:00

Weekends always fill up with events no matter where one lives. Such is part of life. This weekend was no different.

Events ranged from dinner with live jazz in the heart of the Village, watching the loading of the airplane flt 1549 onto a barge in our very own backyard, a evening concert listening to the sounds of a 1720 Stradivarius, quickly followed by the Blue Danube encouraging a large majority of the audience up and out of their seats to waltz in the Winter Garden, a baby shower honoring one of our neighborhood's favorite people, and to top things off snow tubing down mountains in New Jersey.

Quite the range but just another Manhattan weekend.

This is New York...

2009-01-15T18:37:00.003-05:00

and we believe in miracles.

Reading is Fun.

2009-01-06T13:20:00.006-05:00

I am thankful for laughter, except when milk comes out of my nose. ~Woody Allen

Celebrity Autobiography is an incredible show that had me doubling over. The show takes a rotating casts of famous people reading other celebrities autobiographies. Imagine SNL cast member Kristen Wiig reading from the love poetry of Suzanne Somers. The show's developer Eugene Pack was spot on with the words of George Takei...really, who knew Sulu had a book of memoirs? The evening's entire cast was brillant. We got to experience Will Forte, Richard Kind, Scott Adsit, Eugene Pack, Dayle Reyfel, Sherri Shepherd and Kristen Wiig

The Triad on 72nd Street is the setting. Small, intimate and perfect for an evening of laughter.

2009

2008-12-31T23:18:00.004-05:00

Even though it is not quite midnight here in NYC we already rang in 2009...UK style. An early evening party in a stunning apartment on the 40th floor overlooking the harbor was the setting for the ringing of the bells. We celebrated the New Year at 7 pm EST while the bells of Big Ben rang out in London at midnight. The company was perfect, the setting was gorgeous. The chiming of the bells was a new experience and hopefully a more regular occurrence.

We are honored and blessed to ring in the New Year surrounded by our lovely friends and their families. In typical NYC style the entire world was represented. The champagne flowed, laughter of children filled the air and the conversation was fun and bright.

In less than a half hour that famous crystal ball will drop in Times Square. Since we are Downtown dwellers we will settle for the sight on the television. Instead we will look out our windows towards Miss Liberty and take in some colorful and spectacular fireworks. It is a cold night and a good one to be cozy. That being said we have been lucky enough to celebrate in Times Square...definitely something to put on your list.

Welcome to 2009. May your year be filled with love, friends and health. Enjoy all of it. Take care of yourself and your neighbors.

May your Christmas be bright.

2008-12-24T19:32:00.005-05:00

From my neighborhood to yours...Merry Christmas.

Tradition of Revelations

2008-12-19T23:43:00.007-05:00

December not only holds the holiday season but the home season of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Of the many performances of dance/theater/music I am lucky enough to attend the AAADT always wins my heart. For eight consecutive years we have found our way to 55th Street. My year would honestly not be complete without an evening on spectacular dance capped off with Revelations.

This year the AAADT is celebrating 50 years. In honor of the achievement Mr Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra held court for one week of special perfomances with live music. It was fantastic and added an entirely new dimension to the evening.

Revelations is Ailey's masterpiece. It leaves me speechless and breathless every time. I find myself holding my breath the entire time not wanting to move a muscle in fear of missing a millisecond of perfection. From its premiere in 1960 this piece has moved countless people across the world.

If you ever find yourself in NYC in December Alvin Ailey is a must. If not check out their tour. Maybe if you are lucky enough it will be coming to your hometown. Click here to find out.

Alvin Ailey was brillant and ahead of his time.

heart

2008-12-16T10:47:00.006-05:00

Love is in the air..follow this link.

http://nymag.com/news/articles/reasonstoloveny/2008/

Oh Martha!

2008-12-09T20:28:00.004-05:00

The day started off in Chelsea at the Martha Stewart compound. We had lucked into tickets to a taping of the Martha Stewart Show. Having never watched a single episode prior I had no clue what I was in for. The entire process was smooth and simple. Guest of the show was Rufus Wainwright who apparently has never set foot in a kitchen before. The mood was light and the laughs were many. We completely scored with the audience giveaway of the ultra cool vacuum packaging system Foodsaver. Word has it these babies retail for $175 so we felt the morning was worth it. Martha is very becoming and funny in person. Plus I gave her an extra ten points for wearing heels. Love heels!

It's a good thing.

Thanksgiving NYC style

2008-11-27T19:53:00.024-05:00

Does living in NYC get any better?

Wednesday before Thanksgiving meant Radio City. The Christmas Spectacular is everything it promises to be. Radio City is one of the most awe inspiring performance halls in the world. From the hanging crystal tree in the lobby to the spun gold curtain on the stage, no matter how many times I set foot in Radio City it simply takes my breath away. And what better way to introduce the holiday season other than the beautiful high kicking Rockettes? Love them.

Battling the other three million spectators Thanksgiving morning is the only way to start the day. The parade was a bright and beautiful as ever this year. The 2.5 mile route travels from 77th Street down to Herald Square.

The crowds were thick but the battle was worth it. Our favorite new balloon...Horton. Our favorite float...always Santa Claus.

Thanksgiving dinner was held in Lower Manhattan. Ulysess is the place to be. The food was so delicious we couldn't pinpoint one favorite dish! All perfect and the company was even better. Twenty one friends representing five different families from all corners of the earth. United Kingdom, Columbia, Germany, Zimbabwe, Texas and Illinois were in the house. Nine lovely children devoured their dinner and followed it up with a wonderful game of freeze tag on the cobblestone of Stone Street.

"Each friend represents a world in us, a world not possibly born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born."

Anais Nin

Each family comes from a different walk of life and have taken many a varied path to call NYC home. We are firm believers it takes a village and I am so thankful they are all part of my village.

Our Thanks are many.

Halloween Street Pageant.

2008-10-31T21:48:00.016-04:00

"There's the Born Again Losers and the Lavender Boozers
and some crack team from Washington Heights
The boys from Avenue B and the girls from Avenue D
a Tinkerbell in tights..." Halloween Parade by Lou Reed

Imagine 50,000 costume crazy New Yorkers all in one place at one time. Mix up Mardi Gras with some uninhibited city folk and you have the annual Village Halloween Parade. For the last evening in October it really doesn't get any better. Two million spectators line Sixth Avenue from Spring St to 21st Street to watch. The lines are blurred as most of the spectators are costumed up.

This year provided the 35th time this colorful procession has taken place. It did not disappoint. Costumes utilized every bit of the imagination. Floats provided shirtless dancers, dancing pirates and disco queens galore. Want the Muppets? Check. Ferris Bueller? Check. A man in drag as Sarah Palin? Check And that is only the tip of the iceberg.

Loud and proud this characters march in all their glory. The spirit is great and the streets are packed. And who can forget the puppets? The giant sized puppets are breathtaking and a signature of this night.

Each and every parade has its on flavor. The flavor of this one is definitely carnival. It embodies every spirit past and present that have called this little place home.

The Village Halloween Parade is listed in the book "100 Things to Do Before You Die." Might want to put it on your list!

Queen of Pop

2008-10-13T19:26:00.007-04:00

Madonna, Madison Square Garden, twice. How lucky am I?

Incredible. Favorite part...hard decision but I will go with the rocked out Borderline.

One night with my favorite husband and another night with two favorite friends. Saturday night Pharrell joined her for Give It To Me.

Really, life is good.

59 Grove Street

2008-09-27T20:39:00.005-04:00

A little bit divy, a dash of eccentric and mix it up with a big whooping serving of Broadway and you have Marie's Crisis. If one is in the need of expressing their inner Broadway diva this is the place for you. A basement bar with an upright piano as its centerpiece is a must on any show lovers list. The room originated as a prostitute's den in the 1800s. Eventually it was where Thomas Paine met his maker in 1809. (Hence the crisis from The Crisis Papers.)

Dark paneling and a low ceiling only add the ambiance to this tiny place. The sheer energy and delight make it a true "only in NYC" experience. The pianoman is absolutely brilliant and the depth of patron talent is endless. If you are lucky enough your waiter might bust into a solo that makes the entire room go silent.

Nothing fancy here. The crowd is as diverse as it gets...Broadway aficionados, queens, silver hairs, shocked tourists, you name it. A few patrons may have even hoofed it on the great white way before.

If you find yourself in the heart of the Village and you are a little bit daring and want to live your dream of singing in the big city step on down to Marie's Crisis.

I miss you.

2008-09-10T22:15:00.003-04:00

All the world'll flyin a flurry

2008-08-08T17:02:00.018-04:00

When I take you out in the surrey....Oklahoma

A mere 800 yards from Lower Manhattan sits a small secretive wonderland. Governors Island has a bright and important history. (Check out www.govisland.com) What a blessing that it has been reopened for public use!

This morning we headed out on the first quick ferry jaunt available. The ferry ride is literally moments long. Two moms and three kids we were and ready for a morning of some fun finds. We lucked out and were able to rent a bicycle surrey through the new bike share program in NYC.

The surrey was a blast! Not only were we able to cover a ton of terrority but able to do it in fine fine style. Our model was very similar to this one.

We ventured around with the two big kids riding up front in first class style and with the little tyke helping to copilot between us. Loaded in and wheeling around we took the island by storm.

For nearly two centuries Governors Island served as a military base. Since September 1996 it has sat as a virtual ghost town. Perfect homes with parklike surroundings are everywhere. In the later years the island even house a motel, a YMCA, a theatre and a bowling alley. Throw in the schools and churches and there you have the entire community. Not to mention the military buildings...Fort Jay, Castle Williams....all very important to the history of the island.

Zipping around in our surrey one could almost feel some of the buildings come to life. Many a military brat had probably ridden their bikes through the same paths. Growing up in this oasis with the Statue of Liberty out your front door and Manhattan out the side door must have provided for quite the childhood. Reading up on some of the "brats" prior had their stories running through my head.

After our surrey tour we reluctantly returned it! We had bonded with that surrey and loved it. It was quite the workout though. We found a breezy shady spot on the eastside of the island overlooking my favorite little island in the world Manhattan. Enjoying a picnic lunch while watching the children play riverside with in my opinion the most breathtaking backdrop in the world is priceless. These kids are city through and through.

On the return ferry home we enjoyed an upclose view of Olafur Eliasson Waterfall on the island. The city is home to four waterfalls this season as a public art project. www. nycwaterfalls.org can give you a little background on the art . We are fortunate in our neighborhood due to proximity that we have gotten to enjoy them regularly.

Stepping back onto Manhattan and the Battery Maritime Building we went to check out Playing the Building, a sound installation by Former Talking Head David Byrne. An old church organ is placed in the center and made to literally "play the building." The organ controls well placed devices (on the pillars, old radiators, beams, pipes, etc). The sounds are spooky and soothing and crazy! It is an incredible interactive art exhibit.

It was a beautiful and educational morning. Summer will soon be over and it was great to take advantage of wonderful things right in our own little neighborhood.

Subterranean smart cocktails and many kisses

2008-07-16T21:06:00.009-04:00

“Most human beings are driven to seek security and comfort. But there is another group that can only thrive on change and the unexpected of New York.” -- Cathleen Nesbit

We hopped on the 1 train without a destination and ended up getting off at Houston St. We had previously eyeballed an intriguing door on the corner of Seventh Ave and Leroy we decided to take the plunge. The nearly unmarked door led to a dark staircase to the basement. Once inside this quaint speakeasy we allowed our eyes to adjust to the nearly complete darkness. Cozy little booths awaited and jazz tunes were in the air. It was a grand experience. The drinks are from another era. Little Branch is fun, relaxing and a little bit swank.

A lovely apres cocktail walk led us to dine at Tanti Baci. It is a "flower room" setting. It is mainly composed of few wooden tables in chairs tucked in nook of Seventh Avenue. The menu is simple and divine. There is more than enough pasta and sauce combinations to please any palate. The location is in the heart of Greenwich Village. The setting is so pleasing it is as if you are dining among friends in a quaint atmosphere. Loved it. Will definitely be back. Rumor has it the desserts are perfect.

un giorno d'estate

2008-07-11T23:01:00.004-04:00

How does one stay cool in Gotham when the temps start rising?

Fontana of course.

Every Building has a Story

2008-07-07T21:06:00.009-04:00

Who knew in this building...

one could find this.

A Sunday morning walk through Little Italy or more specifically the area known as Nolita added some visual pleasures to the day. St. Michael's Russian Catholic Church has a building that is relatively unassuming in this great city. The small structure is planted between St. Patrick's Old Cathedral (more on that in a future post.) and the St. Patrick's Youth Center. St. Michael's was originally the Chancery for Old St. Pats.

Walking into St. Michael's and peering through an interior glass window held incredible sights. This Catholic community follows the Russian tradition of the Byzantine Church. Even with 12 plus years of formal Catholic education behind me this was something completely new. I happened upon this sacred place during the Divine Liturgy. The spectacle was tiny but brillant.

This particular Church was established in the 1930's at 266 Mulberry to provide for Russian Catholic immigrants who had fled their homeland. The most striking difference noticed in a my few minutes of spying in was the congregation constantly standing and the iconostasis separating the sancutuary from the rest of the Church.

Very interesting indeed. I will definitely be doing a bit of internet research on the Byzantine Rite.

Hot dogs and a speakeasy

2008-06-21T19:33:00.005-04:00

While entertaining friends from the 817 we discovered another fascinating NY treat. PDT (Please Don't Tell) is a hidden gem of a cocktail lounge. Located on St. Mark's Place in the bosom of the East Village no sign is necessary. PDT is day of reservations only. Luck was on our side and we scored a pre-dinner reservation at this lovely little lounge.

To go to this subterranean one must go into the hot dog dive. Once inside make your way to the phone booth and after that you are on your own. Yes, go to the phone booth. Check it out.

I won't write anymore. Go and enjoy.

PDT is a sweet secret in Gotham. Maybe I shouldn't tell? No, it's okay. We are friends.

Coney Island, USA

2008-06-21T18:05:00.011-04:00

Summer has arrived and in celebration we headed out to Coney Island. Today was the 25th Mermaid Parade and what a spectacle it was. Men, women, children, and in betweens all enjoyed the parade of thousands on the boardwalk. The backdrop with the historical Coney Island amusement parks on one side and the beach on the other added up for one memorable day.

The Mermaid Parade pays homage to Coney Island's forgotten Mardi Gras which lasted from 1903 to 1954. NYC boldest and brightest show up dressed to thrill. Costumes range from mermaids to neptunes to subway cars. It is a bawdy display of colorful people waving their freak flag proudly.

If you aren't familiar with the history and controversy surrounding Coney Island you should treat yourself and do a bit of internet research on the subject. It is quite fascinating. Personally I hope the developers pull back and let this one of a kind all American seaside piece of history continue to bless the shores of Brooklyn.

"It is blatant, it is cheap, it is the apotheosis of the ridiculous. But it is something more; it is like Niagara Falls or the Grand Canyon or Yellowstone Park; it is a national playground, and not to have seen it is not to have seen your own country," said Reginald Wright Kauffman in 1909 of Coney Island.

This seashore playground offers everything from sideshow school to the best in burlesque to the wonderful New York Aquarium. In some ways it is as though time stood still. Coney Island is the epitome of things we wish we could do and not look back.

Time has taken its toll on Coney Island. The beach is not the cleanest. In the amusement areas there is a charge to use the restrooms. The area is not the safest but there is just something about it. The mind wanders to years gone by. I always think of those gritty city kids of the Depression that waited all winter long for one life changing day at Coney Island.

Coney Island is shocking, breathtaking and a relief all at once. The richness of the people of Coney Island shines through. The aficionados of this incredible land truly make it great. They are passionate and eccentric. We all need a bit of Coney Island in us.

*Random fact...the first American hot dog was introduced in Coney Island around 1870 by German immigrant Charles Feltman.

Another Village journey

2008-05-31T10:22:00.004-04:00

Today we set out with one thing on our minds...lunch. Intitally we had anticipated enjoying some Peruvian chicken at Pardo's. Imagine our surprise when we walked up to find a "closed" sign on the door? Pardo's closes for one week a year to do some heavy maintenance and it happened to be this week. Fortunately the Village provides more than just a couple of options for dining excursions. We wandered across Bleecker with a left turn onto Cornelia. We considered Po and Cornelia St Cafe but decided to keep walking. The weather was simply amazing and it was perfect for taking our time and selection the perfect lunch spot. We crossed Sixth Ave and finally ended up at Cafe Espanol on Bleecker between MacDougal and Sullivan. The sign offering three courses plus sangria for $11.95 caught our eye. We enjoyed a lovely lunch of arroz con pollo and took in the enjoyments of sidewalk dining. Life doesn't get much better than a great table on a great street in the heart of the Village with great eats. The parade of people offers the greatest in entertainment.

I had to completely twist Lori's arm to follow me to a fantastic hole in the wall cupcake joint. Tonnie's is not one of the big recognized cupcake places that NYC has gained recognition on. The critics don't know what they are missing. Tonnie's offerings are out of this world! We each grabbed four cupcakes to go to give the girls a nice Friday after school treat. My personal indulgence of red velvet was crazy good. Lori's were so good she could not quit texting and leaving me messages of the delicious qualities. The best part of Tonnie's is the atmosphere.

Where else but in this little city we call home can one get a cupcake, a cheesesteak sammie, reflexology and a palm reading all within the same place? That is what I call living.

vqs

2008-04-25T19:45:00.003-04:00

With Passover break now almost complete we hope to get back on track with some fun adventures around the 212 and slightly beyond.

March and April proved to be busy. Lori went off on a jetsetting tour. She claims it was to visit "friends" but I honestly think she might be moonlighting as a rock star. Her travels took her to the Mayan Riviera, Chicago and Miami.

April provided me with the chance to explore the amazing island of Vieques. Enough great things about this place cannot be written. If you find yourself in Vieques definitely stay at the EvaMer. Marc loves the island with his soul and happily shares any information one might need and is a gracious host. The grounds are amazing and the view is priceless. Vieques is friendly, gorgeous and just a great place. The Bio Bay is quite possibly the coolest experience ever. Jumping into that black black water was life changing. Feeling like a fairy swimming through the glitter is breathtaking. Captain Mark and Ricky pretty much rule. Put it on your list of things to do in life. You won't regret it and you will never forget it.

Thank you Marc and the EvaMer for being our home base. Thank you Vieques for being one of the most beautiful places on earth. More importantly thank to the people of Vieques who guard this perfect place.

With May around the corner our urban adventures look to be on track.

Goodness

2008-04-17T13:48:00.005-04:00

Life has been crazy with schedules and travels. For lack of explorations I offer you some goodness recently seen in NYC.

#1 Aloe. This lovely little gem of a restaurant in the East Village can be found at 406 E. 9th St. A quaint intimate setting with "a little bit of everything" on their menu that changes seasonally. Tasty, amazing service and perfect setting. Put it on your list.

#2 Battery Park City Conservancy. Bless the park staff who work year round to give us truly some of the most beautiful space and visions in the world. Spring has been long in coming but now we are surrounded with beautiful color. The grass is open and filled with neighbors and visitors soaking it all in.

#3 M9 anonymous bus driver. When you drop me directly in front of my building instead of the other side of West St you make my day/evening.

#4 Havana Alma de Cuba at 94 Christopher St. Another recent find of delicious eats, great atmosphere, outstanding live music and just an overall fantastic experience. If Cuban is what you are looking for this is the place.

#5 Neighbors. The beautiful weather is bringing out the best in people. In this town we live on top of each other...literally. We share hallways, laundry rooms, mail rooms, elevators and basic personal space daily. Spring has finally arrived after a long winter and everyone seems in lovely spirits.

On a completely different note. If you find yourself in Mountain Home, Arkansas (yes Arkansas) check out Angler's Coffee Cafe and tell them the NYC crowd sent you. My fabulous and longtime friend Missy has started a new adventure. Best of luck Missy!

"On the Avenue, Fifth Avenue, the photographers will snap us and you'll find that you're in the rotogravure." Easter Parade

2008-03-23T19:22:00.012-04:00

Fancy threads

Anybody got a light?

Great tophat

Hey I know that bunny getting her picture snapped.

Happy Easter. Today I wandered with family in tow to the "Easter Parade" on 5th Avenue. This is not a traditional parade....but rather a display of people mingling wearing crazy hats and beautiful finery. It is a wonderful gathering of all sorts of folks. This spectacle dates back to the mid-1800s when the social uppities would leave their respective Easter Church services and parade up and down 5th Avenue showing off their gorgeous threads.

"In your Easter bonnet,
with all the frills upon it,
You'll be the grandest lady
in the Easter parade!" - Irving Berlin

This extravaganza now is fantastic. The headgear is unbelievable and offers a true glimpse at the eccentric and creative brains that roam this little island. The crowd encompasses all walks of life from adorable families decked out in garb from years past to dazzling drag queens showing off the finest in feathers and rhinestones.

Street entertainers often gather a crowd but everyone has really made the journey to see the Easter bonnets. Today was a cold and early Easter calendar wise. Regardless the crowds were thick and the spirit merry. The lines for Mass at the famed St. Patrick's Cathedral were blocks long.

There were bonnets in the shape of the Empire State Building made of Metrocards and painted poodles being pushed in carriages. There were elaborate Easter baskets worn a top the head. Some hats were so large they required a wingman to hold them up from behind. This crowd does not disappoint. Cameras snapped rapidly at it all. People happily stop, pose and chat while celebrating the beauty of the day. Some of my personal favorites were the 80something dame in her bathing suit holding a sign for peace, a blissful sleeping toddler in a chicken costume and the lovely man wearing dice on his head and a fabulous pair of red patent heels at the end of his long gams.

Two dramatically different parades within in six days.

Here's to the people that come out and make the city great. Cheers!

St. Patty's Day

2008-03-17T17:26:00.009-04:00

My Irish eyes were smiling as Lori and I headed out on a cold morning up to Fifth Avenue to enjoy the heritage of the Irish. The St. Patrick's Day Parade is very different as it is marching bands, a ton of bagpipe and drum corps and different groups walking...no floats or balloons at this extravaganza. Needless to say we thought it was worth a journey. Tens of thousands of NYers participate in the parade following the famous green stripe up Fifth Avenue with about two million onlookers lining the route. This was the 247th marching of the NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade.

We got off the train at Columbus Circle and as we cut across just south of Central Park we were in dire need of some direct sunglight to warm up. We found a good spectactor spot at 59th and Fifth Ave. I have to admit it was a rather quiet parade this year compared to years past. Maybe it was due to the fact that it was the workday of Monday and all of the politicians were absent. Hizzoner Bloomberg and fellow politicians were all in Albany this morning for the swearing in of our newest Governor...Mr David Paterson. Spitzer is out, Paterson is in.

The FDNY won our vote for favorites of the day. They are certainly an impressive bunch. It is always awe inspiring yet heart wrenching to see the 343 American flags being held high and proud coming up Fifth Avenue...each one representing the 343 FDNY members lost on September 11th. The crowd gave the men and ladies of the FDNY a very warm response.

After battling the cold and the wind we decided our celebration of the Irish had come to an end. Lori and I headed to 51st to do a little shopping at the flagship store for Capezio. It is an amazing store of everything dance. Just walking in the store makes you want to star on Broadway. Lori tried a few moves but was not stretched out enough to land any jobs on the Great White Way. Needless to say between Lori's girls and my girl they scored some adorable threads.

Happy St. Patrick's Day. The Easter Parade is next Sunday....we need to do some serious bonnet designs to stand out in that crowd.

Village adventures.

2008-03-14T19:56:00.009-04:00

It was another amazing day in Manhattan! Lori and I decided to start our journey at Hudson and Grove in the West Village. This part of the city stands in stark contrast to the our neighborhood where every building is an average of 40 stories. The lovely four and five story brownstones are absolutely beautiful. Walking on Grove we stopped and peered into the enchanting (and private!) Grove Court. It is one of the most exclusive (oh la la) streets in the Village with only residents having a key to the irongate. This quaint courtyard was constructed between 1848 and 1852. The row of mews houses are storybook and makes one wonder about all the actual stories that have happened within that court. Ahh, to be so lucky.

We meandered down many breathtaking streets taking in the sights. Lori and I both agreed we would like to try out brownstone living in the future. (Of course with her Chicago years she has had a taste of this luxury.) Each home offers fun and unique characteristics. We envisioned hanging out on the stoops while the kids played hopscotch. One home had lion statues guarding the door although one was missing half a face and looked oddly like the mask in the horror flick Scream.

Lori and I felt heavy obligation and a sense of duty to partake in a visit to the famed Magnolia Bakery on Bleecker. While not my absolute favorite cupcake place(I honestly don't have one single favorite...I love them all) in the city they are certainly great. The smells and visions offered here are a delight! With four cupcakes each in hand it was time to venture on.

Up and down the streets we discovered fun and great conversation at every turn. We tried to persuade a "songwriter/producer" that Lori was indeed a famous rapper but he didnt' fall for it. It was completely and totally worth a try. As Lori pointed out that yes, most famous songwriters do drive Toyota Camrys. Further down Bleecker we stood amazed at the eats offered at both Faicco's Sausages and Murray's Cheese Shop. Murray's is a long time favorite of mine and Faicco's was a first but certainly not a last for both of us.

Enjoying the sights and sounds of Greenwich Village is always a treat even early in the morning. The young lad relieving himself on the steps of St. Joseph's Church most definitely enjoys the wee hours of the Village. Such is NYC! We checked out several restaurant menus and put them on our list of places to go.

We ended up at Broadway and started heading south towards our homeland. After crossing Canal we decided to venture into Ricky's. This place is the ultimate drugstore for moms and drag queens alike. By the time we loaded up and left we were both "Looking Good, Feeling Good" as the sign stated. At Broadway and Duane we parted ways with Lori heading West while I headed all the way south.

Today's adventures were rather tame and quiet. It is not everyday that one can enjoy birds singing their morning songs in Manhattan. Today we had that....and much more.

Adventure du jour

2008-03-06T19:46:00.012-05:00

Which way to the Fung Wah?

Lori looks so full of surprise and emotion with her new coiffure.

Yummy, we love bakeries.

Love thy neighbor, especially on the Bowery
This morning Lori and I set out on the M9. Our eyes perked up on East Broadway and we hopped off the bus at East Broadway and Market Slip. Lori had never been to this part of town and was excited to see we had literally landed in a different country. This part of Chinatown encompasses wild open air markets, stores with every item imaginable and restaurants that we had no clue what they were offering since we couldn't read the menus. When we turned the corner underneath the Manhattan Bridge we enjoyed the sights and sounds of the kind ladies trying to sell us a seat on the infamous Fung Wah bus. Since we didn't have a need to score a ride to Boston we kept on walking. As luck would have it we discovered Pell Street. This short little road was filled with the finest in Chinese hair salons/massage parlors. Looking for a Japanese Straight Perm? Sold. Looking for a little reflexology to make sure your uretha is functioning? Done.

I introduced Lori to the popular Hong Kong chain Aji Ichiban. This is little candy store runs the range from delicious chewy ginger to dried cuttlefish. Instead of indulging in the squid crackers we opted to stroll up Mulberry Street to the heart of Little Italy.

*Random fact. In the 1930s, one-sixth of NY's population was from Southern Italy.

The delicious smells from my long time favorite La Bella Ferrara called us in. There we enjoyed amazing butter biscuits and took some to go. From Little Italy we walked over to the Bowery and window shopped the restaurant supplies and lighting. Never know when one might need a mixer the size of a bathtub.

From Bowery we went east on Houston. We passed by the infamous Yonah Schimmel Knishery and definitely plan to lunch there in the future. After crossing the street and enjoying the nexus of the Universe...1st Ave and 1st Street, we wandered up 1st Avenue. Heading towards Tompkins Square Park I shared with Lori that it was the land of many police encounters and raids including the dismantling of Tent City in the late 80s. She was ultra impressed with that tidbit.

By this point hunger was calling and we dined at Hummus Place on St. Mark's Place. Needless to say hummus was on the menu. Lori scored with her order of fava hummus. A little more tasty than my order of hummus masabacha. Definitely a place to return to.

After a delicious lunch and loads of new insight on dreary old Manhattan it was time to return to the reality that we call Battery Park City and the Financial District. Walking St. Mark's Place to Astor Place to catch a train home we considered a tattoo to commerate the lovely day. Fortunately we were distracted by groovy sunglasses and the ink was just a fleeting thought.

Stay tuned...pictures to be added in the very near future.

Urban Adventures

2008-03-06T13:04:00.000-05:00

We are so lucky to live life in New York City. Life is sweet and so is this city. The time is definitely right to learn more about this lovely little island we call home.