Perfect

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.

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

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

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

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

and it often feels like yesterday.

tears

Sugar fun=LES

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.