Thanksgiving NYC style

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.

"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

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

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.

All the world'll flyin a flurry

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

“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.