tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91478829354695590582024-03-14T05:19:19.278-04:00Home Sweet NYCOne girl's quest to make New York City feel like homeThe Girl Next Doorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12055434276560125241noreply@blogger.comBlogger146125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147882935469559058.post-6028524533749293752009-09-13T12:38:00.006-04:002009-09-13T13:08:35.659-04:00Happenings: The 9-11 Reading, From Behind The Barricades<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsmQsTikVuYPidOWjgF3_XhMPjqHc9EKlNBbtKjqlGuf5yydlP4Q_qfS5R0gmVt6SY14JmvVOsCPRRcKN4IXXfd60WhYSMSMK8-dUDd40OEkZqm_VB0fvKpxgmYyVbqZDPvCL1xuyGjIA/s1600-h/fashion+night+out+031.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsmQsTikVuYPidOWjgF3_XhMPjqHc9EKlNBbtKjqlGuf5yydlP4Q_qfS5R0gmVt6SY14JmvVOsCPRRcKN4IXXfd60WhYSMSMK8-dUDd40OEkZqm_VB0fvKpxgmYyVbqZDPvCL1xuyGjIA/s400/fashion+night+out+031.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380996954173550818" border="0" /></a>As a resident of Lower Manhattan, every 9-11, I am reminded in a very immediate and poignant way of the events of that tragic day via the tributes and memorials that are happen around me. The <a href="http://homesweetnyc.blogspot.com/2008/09/on-my-mind-9-11-seven-years-later.html">tribute in lights</a>, the many bouquets of flowers inserted into breaks in the construction site wall as the former WTC site, the dozens of police and firefighters dressed in their dress blues, remembering their fallen friends and colleagues, friends and families carrying photographs of their lost loved ones, the stand of flags bearing victims' names at Bowling Green park, <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqvKdzhnUPelPit9PcpnBcd2LjYlQOGESsCjc3_wuv7WwTVTKCO7BtavqOA0YdnALR8uhtP0s35yVBNuzwZe-EZvht2tZxftmRirpUQtIPMTJcpOljXDLSdp9pVZnWYT_T3Utan_5catc/s1600-h/fashion+night+out+042.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqvKdzhnUPelPit9PcpnBcd2LjYlQOGESsCjc3_wuv7WwTVTKCO7BtavqOA0YdnALR8uhtP0s35yVBNuzwZe-EZvht2tZxftmRirpUQtIPMTJcpOljXDLSdp9pVZnWYT_T3Utan_5catc/s400/fashion+night+out+042.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380997329653533282" border="0" /></a>and the reading of the names, the sounding of the bells and the moments of silence marking the falls of the towers.<br /><br />This 9-11 was a rainy, cold one, as many remarked, a very different day than the same date in 2001. Having lived down here for a few years, I had never before gone to see the reading of the names, which I usually watch on TV, but this morning, I turned off the TV and decided to walk down to Zucotti Park, across from the WTC site, where they were holding the tribute and see if I could experience it in person.<br /><br /><br />News trucks lined the street. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6V0m3QjIT5H6PUkO131-ciHxQkHqJJ8vTBt_tM-1Tj-Bb_QimiPPDWxEuUTmbZgUe33eJ-V3wxsGrKJt8e36DtNOJ3Xa1ET0nb82BxDlSazVBShKQ4_uNknrnX3vWMzvUqo7eUN2lu_U/s1600-h/fashion+night+out+032.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6V0m3QjIT5H6PUkO131-ciHxQkHqJJ8vTBt_tM-1Tj-Bb_QimiPPDWxEuUTmbZgUe33eJ-V3wxsGrKJt8e36DtNOJ3Xa1ET0nb82BxDlSazVBShKQ4_uNknrnX3vWMzvUqo7eUN2lu_U/s400/fashion+night+out+032.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380996961614958690" border="0" /></a>as well as firetrucks and police vehicles.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyi-JLXd99mArfwNw4VqErcZ2p2IbL9-D0hecfnNfVshHcbQ8g1rcosX_p3a3NI56GZIiOfvUzAT0ntToVjyiZdZV9VdvQjm1qEv6wPJhuc0X7zDkAMepN74wNg2yuek3ZQQmbdc8f-DE/s1600-h/fashion+night+out+030.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 292px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyi-JLXd99mArfwNw4VqErcZ2p2IbL9-D0hecfnNfVshHcbQ8g1rcosX_p3a3NI56GZIiOfvUzAT0ntToVjyiZdZV9VdvQjm1qEv6wPJhuc0X7zDkAMepN74wNg2yuek3ZQQmbdc8f-DE/s400/fashion+night+out+030.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380996949939348946" border="0" /></a>Unfortunately, Zucotti Park had been barricaded off to the public. A very regal line of police and firefighters formed the back line of the park on Broadway. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWRseDQegsHxHjr2AXCxAgUKaERIof8uZn8zgsN3Jryg9z5CosXhaaRyUCGT7Hky9_nvUEtGUkwpgBp1DTYX2YvFAbN5GFnkrNShktVgdcYHGv-mv7ws_EqekGDtwrfjpfu6-8J_3IIcA/s1600-h/fashion+night+out+034-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 167px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWRseDQegsHxHjr2AXCxAgUKaERIof8uZn8zgsN3Jryg9z5CosXhaaRyUCGT7Hky9_nvUEtGUkwpgBp1DTYX2YvFAbN5GFnkrNShktVgdcYHGv-mv7ws_EqekGDtwrfjpfu6-8J_3IIcA/s400/fashion+night+out+034-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380996966798014626" border="0" /></a>Only family and VIPs, I assume, were allowed into the enclosure. Along Broadway, I joined dozens of stangers who were braving the rain to watch from behind the barricades, but you couldn't hear anything more than muffled words from there, so the crowd was loose and uncommitted. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzu4_uFEcUa1VTxxtC1HCHAkuEcspCQ6_Yke3_VOxhUSvWDGORMXy-oJRtCmR71Rda3xY3ELWTXUAddxxQwoivRoJfOfIqsnQzUhqO3Htxsts4XOKgvv2cnDvX3hmQ80idu0Dl6XEL3v8/s1600-h/fashion+night+out+037.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzu4_uFEcUa1VTxxtC1HCHAkuEcspCQ6_Yke3_VOxhUSvWDGORMXy-oJRtCmR71Rda3xY3ELWTXUAddxxQwoivRoJfOfIqsnQzUhqO3Htxsts4XOKgvv2cnDvX3hmQ80idu0Dl6XEL3v8/s400/fashion+night+out+037.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380997314889478834" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQwQ0AYSFks_0YLCWH8UY8PqBpIT7Kca3ByboNxmAZ4Z4laSArgIZB1JEL-U_BNbKUaCwJPvEXcBb1dvmv1hNkq-ersl3CQRKBLLyjyr8QRUjlXKeM3yVvihKrpO5smF-FN5hlCa7CHcI/s1600-h/fashion+night+out+036.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQwQ0AYSFks_0YLCWH8UY8PqBpIT7Kca3ByboNxmAZ4Z4laSArgIZB1JEL-U_BNbKUaCwJPvEXcBb1dvmv1hNkq-ersl3CQRKBLLyjyr8QRUjlXKeM3yVvihKrpO5smF-FN5hlCa7CHcI/s400/fashion+night+out+036.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380996980830820370" border="0" /></a>Though at 9:59 am, I did hear hear the bells commemorating the fall of the second tower. I left a few minutes later and walked home.<br /><br />I find it sad that the public isn't allowed to come together and commemorate this day in a more organized way. Why can't they hear the reading of the names in person? Is it due to a lack of suitable space for congregation? Are they waiting for the memorial to be built. It's been 9 years already. Do we have to wait ten more years to pay our respects properly? In the meantime, it would be nice to have a place to go to be as a community and reflect on what 9-11 taught us. Barricaded streets are an unfulfilling tribute to the victims of that day, both those who've passed and those who still bear the pain and trauma of that day.The Girl Next Doorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12055434276560125241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147882935469559058.post-11113734651389833722009-09-13T11:44:00.010-04:002009-09-13T13:40:31.367-04:00Happenings: Fashion Night OutThursday was the beginning of Fashion Week and also marked the first ever NY Fashion Night Out. With fall-like temperatures in the 60's, it was a perfect night to be gallivanting around the city admiring the art of fashion...and do a little shopping. Stores stayed open late throughout the city, baiting fashionistas with cocktails and hors d'oeurves, live-DJs, freebies, limited edition items and celebrity appearances. Everywhere you went, crowds and lines of fashionably dressed men and women twittered with excitement.<br /><br />Miss Fashion, our navigator for the evening, and I met at Opening Ceremony a few minutes before they opened at 6 pm. Already the sidewalk was crowded with fans. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUlPxHBIBHwzbBNqUG_OutQWXossKy4ltWUhm3QZNtJpXWwV6oM1ue1DC2l0fk0EuVN2Qgr1I5if8r98Zk-gV4ui50_bGRPFqUuVITBp_Tm3YYlGGw7XykOE6-rhaaZGdOU6zTpeYoTS4/s1600-h/fashion+night+out+002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUlPxHBIBHwzbBNqUG_OutQWXossKy4ltWUhm3QZNtJpXWwV6oM1ue1DC2l0fk0EuVN2Qgr1I5if8r98Zk-gV4ui50_bGRPFqUuVITBp_Tm3YYlGGw7XykOE6-rhaaZGdOU6zTpeYoTS4/s400/fashion+night+out+002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380985602838299346" border="0" /></a>As soon as the doors opened, the crowd milling about rushed through the door, ostensibly to grab some of the limited edition items (as displayed in this convertible parked outside the store).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLzonlIWou0WAQXIz46gEJIpBmSTuXRxyN1Bvy8H1SdAwmknFJQdpujV6pNPS61i4pp0wMU95EElOMPDrqIb-XwBNd6B0dsS55DmjUXAzKqXtb434-lqIh7uRqK_sHMMKC4kaFEvusn9Q/s1600-h/fashion+night+out+003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLzonlIWou0WAQXIz46gEJIpBmSTuXRxyN1Bvy8H1SdAwmknFJQdpujV6pNPS61i4pp0wMU95EElOMPDrqIb-XwBNd6B0dsS55DmjUXAzKqXtb434-lqIh7uRqK_sHMMKC4kaFEvusn9Q/s400/fashion+night+out+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380985610523928594" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjLHVcjAzcAunw7sSHEVR43H04A4jcBGM7W8mbmWW4pVPrSP5Dv83kcjMTNSxV2wMHxSbMvNgjSr7ue32EY3FIX5BulNL8bSxCHSqPJXGzoP-TpcXAFEoQvCjWyzYL7rqzScaLHMUFCK0/s1600-h/fashion+night+out+004.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjLHVcjAzcAunw7sSHEVR43H04A4jcBGM7W8mbmWW4pVPrSP5Dv83kcjMTNSxV2wMHxSbMvNgjSr7ue32EY3FIX5BulNL8bSxCHSqPJXGzoP-TpcXAFEoQvCjWyzYL7rqzScaLHMUFCK0/s400/fashion+night+out+004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380985619608774322" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX-28vF-21J3NVpt0ktuB9ZgAEQlRXPxqmnn62JqL50NFXz0n8qn1PTwqWbHtnFb_lpzDK4_Co-kSXa7E5oJZnxF7Z34wpaUy_-ds8jJASDo7onAlQjGxuVKB1g8IyQqB7a_4aNVkIntw/s1600-h/fashion+night+out+005-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX-28vF-21J3NVpt0ktuB9ZgAEQlRXPxqmnn62JqL50NFXz0n8qn1PTwqWbHtnFb_lpzDK4_Co-kSXa7E5oJZnxF7Z34wpaUy_-ds8jJASDo7onAlQjGxuVKB1g8IyQqB7a_4aNVkIntw/s400/fashion+night+out+005-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380985626851244482" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEhGD2Y_jzq0D7xufhdBgLMilXq_H5bTod160ENeN7GA5Ao8reRiFc9Q5xPJ5z5I5Wl5Pc0K3bOekT4kojqzjP-3rSSV_rDv-PTk4UrOkTZSBX8bPdKKgxZuY1FyRK1etmIVrfE5uiZy4/s1600-h/fashion+night+out+006.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEhGD2Y_jzq0D7xufhdBgLMilXq_H5bTod160ENeN7GA5Ao8reRiFc9Q5xPJ5z5I5Wl5Pc0K3bOekT4kojqzjP-3rSSV_rDv-PTk4UrOkTZSBX8bPdKKgxZuY1FyRK1etmIVrfE5uiZy4/s400/fashion+night+out+006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380986004947383890" border="0" /></a>Outside the store, this adorable <a href="http://www.heartschallenger.com/">Hearts Challenger</a> ice cream truck (they opened in June 2009 and can be found around the city, but also rented for parties) sold ice cream on a stick, as well as candy and toys, from all over the world. I had green tea mochi ice cream.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9z-gTPE0uYS1WBk0H-2cToOb8FdrAKBWdIJWYrjzi3Eq-8d0Ju0AJDKBiU7YLtvBKg-p0NQDommH68dSlMUfOT_HZ3BTgM-I0Cf6QsNW3ERD1MFWgG9kXy0qo3MlyEchdNDW7YIYKjI/s1600-h/fashion+night+out+001-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 331px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9z-gTPE0uYS1WBk0H-2cToOb8FdrAKBWdIJWYrjzi3Eq-8d0Ju0AJDKBiU7YLtvBKg-p0NQDommH68dSlMUfOT_HZ3BTgM-I0Cf6QsNW3ERD1MFWgG9kXy0qo3MlyEchdNDW7YIYKjI/s400/fashion+night+out+001-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380985596278424466" border="0" /></a>Brooklyn-based Van Leeuwen was giving out free samples of its very original ice cream flavors - I had earl grey ice cream. Very tasty. Miss Fashion had ginger.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ3OYMip9hFcOmL28MPC2xLObQv6UlkJ0fSSTgmd-S2Yjchmp-PiiobvYQ9B2nZywHBm7iTHZKL4RcESBly1Hul4nI8iqo19m91t6GA9rmV64EAS0JrUXCwXz1e6KIsc-OpLeTlQ9nrUk/s1600-h/fashion+night+out+011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ3OYMip9hFcOmL28MPC2xLObQv6UlkJ0fSSTgmd-S2Yjchmp-PiiobvYQ9B2nZywHBm7iTHZKL4RcESBly1Hul4nI8iqo19m91t6GA9rmV64EAS0JrUXCwXz1e6KIsc-OpLeTlQ9nrUk/s400/fashion+night+out+011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380986021292092130" border="0" /></a><a href="http://homesweetnyc.blogspot.com/2009/03/great-find-momofuku-milk-bar.html">Momofuku Milk</a> had a treat "Thai" truck (get it?) from which they were selling ties (you had to pay inside however) and giving out very tasty, very buttery Thai tea and mango cookies.<br /><br />Miss Fashion got a limited edition Rodarte t-shirt, Kurt Cobain tote and notebook. I bought a fabulous Opening Ceremony dress. By the time we left, shopping bags in tow, there was a long line of people waiting to get in.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4sJStl49JwOzJ6N1eQ4Pl68C9xSVPnhqXjEa5cC1eT4P0s93HDNa2VBEhoIHoNavWH4BzRrhHd2zd4kualdKin1bZLdpfnJc6n32UU7uLcr12D6v6bxdiXgOWVHyAAjPiuSyQecfs9Y8/s1600-h/fashion+night+out+008.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4sJStl49JwOzJ6N1eQ4Pl68C9xSVPnhqXjEa5cC1eT4P0s93HDNa2VBEhoIHoNavWH4BzRrhHd2zd4kualdKin1bZLdpfnJc6n32UU7uLcr12D6v6bxdiXgOWVHyAAjPiuSyQecfs9Y8/s400/fashion+night+out+008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380986009490211154" border="0" /></a>Next stop: Bergdorf Goodman. We were naively thinking we could catch the Olsen Twins bartending, but by the time we got there, the line wrapped around the block into oblivion. The people at the end of the line were facing at least a two-hour wait. Not worth it. On to Madison Avenue.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRxOqipogLlWE2fyjZe44x8ACxymhujUoCxSMJkDK2lDJaC2cWtD9GIQ1S853z0fnE6rdRxYKCWfOmv_EEpNJ0-p9h4_y-idYkrlFjvaWwqYNW6shCdC24JWn6o9Wz8FMAuRCPIUQ9E80/s1600-h/fashion+night+out+015-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 365px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRxOqipogLlWE2fyjZe44x8ACxymhujUoCxSMJkDK2lDJaC2cWtD9GIQ1S853z0fnE6rdRxYKCWfOmv_EEpNJ0-p9h4_y-idYkrlFjvaWwqYNW6shCdC24JWn6o9Wz8FMAuRCPIUQ9E80/s400/fashion+night+out+015-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380987235232832514" border="0" /></a>Charlize Theron was supposed to be at Dior, signing copies of the September Issue of Vogue with her face on the cover. Again, there was a line when we got there, but it seemed to moving pretty quickly. We soon found out whey. Charlize had finished her appearance and been escorted out the back. She's gone, we heard people whisper throughout the crowd. Nonetheless, a big crowd in the store anyway, all oriented to the back room. What were people were waiting for? A mystery still. By the time we walked out five minutes later, the line had dispersed.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXVDvRa-Hr9xZYXwDCO5zEwWlzJruEoWuFgjv3rz-XF5K3sIuOuR_zgTWncOx4McFnLPSf9Rle5hxp6vNq7qoZZsCymnw8RARJav8YAujmLfG8xtEAhW0ioh-JUQHvMW-fuC1FDzlhVM/s1600-h/fashion+night+out+019-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 352px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXVDvRa-Hr9xZYXwDCO5zEwWlzJruEoWuFgjv3rz-XF5K3sIuOuR_zgTWncOx4McFnLPSf9Rle5hxp6vNq7qoZZsCymnw8RARJav8YAujmLfG8xtEAhW0ioh-JUQHvMW-fuC1FDzlhVM/s400/fashion+night+out+019-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380986468900340530" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitGufRFl86FZE7PHREmfscILnonVdTh-GJgMB7uzRItmoE_gDzl7ngXO1DTgOJqJ3ueVv_bxDipLKHJTx8AHAJ576fW_IGUTTW0gaoInU07FKDJVir2r3c3ddJzozNqRa5eek-i5CfzZo/s1600-h/fashion+night+out+021.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitGufRFl86FZE7PHREmfscILnonVdTh-GJgMB7uzRItmoE_gDzl7ngXO1DTgOJqJ3ueVv_bxDipLKHJTx8AHAJ576fW_IGUTTW0gaoInU07FKDJVir2r3c3ddJzozNqRa5eek-i5CfzZo/s400/fashion+night+out+021.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380986476155348898" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_90P3ac9O88GiSn0rJ6A8gGDGJUmuHXaD6ExOrHjczyzikeM_SB5ZCYm7oBLGv9zj4wFnvM9h5lw9ezctWUQehrZPuLw_iMzBdfg8jlmPyhx6nVlWOkHOOGwin3JO06U2I3iTPGanEzY/s1600-h/IMG00039-20090910-2006.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_90P3ac9O88GiSn0rJ6A8gGDGJUmuHXaD6ExOrHjczyzikeM_SB5ZCYm7oBLGv9zj4wFnvM9h5lw9ezctWUQehrZPuLw_iMzBdfg8jlmPyhx6nVlWOkHOOGwin3JO06U2I3iTPGanEzY/s400/IMG00039-20090910-2006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381002835526045058" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmpLOKXpKKFZzmVdykOJ7PB1RJ1bsNwMjJhajDeksmHuDV2KtehDtUu19zZtjuNa4mekGy_xcaFCUMclMMe9MJeeqVNI__gN7kzbsGSYt6NdbQkxFe0bMgzm4ib7rSFZqVUuZ1Ix-3cz8/s1600-h/fashion+night+out+023.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmpLOKXpKKFZzmVdykOJ7PB1RJ1bsNwMjJhajDeksmHuDV2KtehDtUu19zZtjuNa4mekGy_xcaFCUMclMMe9MJeeqVNI__gN7kzbsGSYt6NdbQkxFe0bMgzm4ib7rSFZqVUuZ1Ix-3cz8/s400/fashion+night+out+023.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380986481675956578" border="0" /></a>Other stops: Chanel - where you could design your own Chanel bag and have a Hollywood make-up artist make you over.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmxdZVGIWlZa5n4QXI26dGQWa2n0zsgFgiQx1aQL1IlrozdLRiReDT0CmQF07ZSgGVohGr4BhE-0wG1d7I66lLSuYu9J5xRZ-CeReNeWy_zjCHmx-WTXzjb745jaRQKLCgHF-qGKwn1hs/s1600-h/fashion+night+out+018.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmxdZVGIWlZa5n4QXI26dGQWa2n0zsgFgiQx1aQL1IlrozdLRiReDT0CmQF07ZSgGVohGr4BhE-0wG1d7I66lLSuYu9J5xRZ-CeReNeWy_zjCHmx-WTXzjb745jaRQKLCgHF-qGKwn1hs/s400/fashion+night+out+018.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380986462100976674" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb-zLPVkJnZOspz3oTgZXNhhhxJ-cvslPwZAHycXgBsgoApEInyPI1ZiVsHbHmP3pbfVyhE_v_C9Ar0iZlMpWG1ew-tww4WrluWSVR3zTWM_2HqD6Pt4eiT2npx8tlJbx3vplq28Wkj5w/s1600-h/fashion+night+out+016.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb-zLPVkJnZOspz3oTgZXNhhhxJ-cvslPwZAHycXgBsgoApEInyPI1ZiVsHbHmP3pbfVyhE_v_C9Ar0iZlMpWG1ew-tww4WrluWSVR3zTWM_2HqD6Pt4eiT2npx8tlJbx3vplq28Wkj5w/s400/fashion+night+out+016.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380986034980841698" border="0" /></a>Louis Vuitton, where we ate a couple tasty hors d'oeuvres and Miss Fashion bought a fabulous pair of pants!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4kL0l0OTrBWaXJCfJHCtD_cTtHA6HorAJRbrcokiI-HwYvGLxDNooTNBwbfNb9cmd_VicOiLm9UpH_-rVk4TGPYtiI1Lk4Ft2PQZkoJuhPaidhLarZgEF2TK2Upkq_fgbOI9mAiu0ks/s1600-h/fashion+night+out+027.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4kL0l0OTrBWaXJCfJHCtD_cTtHA6HorAJRbrcokiI-HwYvGLxDNooTNBwbfNb9cmd_VicOiLm9UpH_-rVk4TGPYtiI1Lk4Ft2PQZkoJuhPaidhLarZgEF2TK2Upkq_fgbOI9mAiu0ks/s400/fashion+night+out+027.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380986489773123698" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBS0-iTuCFdMQWxZxhJcpsEMdkdJrnNVEjsDR5q8UGKmCflxG-6GSUIxTxKpD5PbiNNpJLzyXzPSuM7OtMuXwcihf5wk4AMgD6dTuM5Bb8n1-DvK02QhLjn5HXq1WzdPNYJTvFsljkFv0/s1600-h/IMG00040-20090910-2036.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBS0-iTuCFdMQWxZxhJcpsEMdkdJrnNVEjsDR5q8UGKmCflxG-6GSUIxTxKpD5PbiNNpJLzyXzPSuM7OtMuXwcihf5wk4AMgD6dTuM5Bb8n1-DvK02QhLjn5HXq1WzdPNYJTvFsljkFv0/s400/IMG00040-20090910-2036.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381002843308344306" border="0" /></a>Burberry, where had shared a glass of champagne.<br /><br />Happy, we had dinner at one of my favorite midtown clutch restaurants - <a href="http://www.menchankotei.com/">Menchanko-Tei</a> on 55th St between 5th and 6th Ave- for perfect bowls of Hakata Ramen (half portions) and rice balls. Yum!The Girl Next Doorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12055434276560125241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147882935469559058.post-10961516009460074592009-09-03T23:05:00.011-04:002009-09-04T00:07:54.618-04:00Great Find: Bia Garden<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcuDI4QihU8w7Yb_9vhqnfwpLizA6EhSUG1djH7ZJLZ0R8yCdGL_4DLTa4gfAOrNwaRnBYV8wQullsCkP9SypcXS2O6Jy9Nt8pZfzpmzt41jAh1mlvjmhh9XdLFp0CDmMr7QuMmusJMnI/s1600-h/IMG00022-20090903-1829.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcuDI4QihU8w7Yb_9vhqnfwpLizA6EhSUG1djH7ZJLZ0R8yCdGL_4DLTa4gfAOrNwaRnBYV8wQullsCkP9SypcXS2O6Jy9Nt8pZfzpmzt41jAh1mlvjmhh9XdLFp0CDmMr7QuMmusJMnI/s400/IMG00022-20090903-1829.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377453002879822594" border="0" /></a>I'm typing this while in a food and beer coma, but I'm so pleased after a perfect night out that I had to share. Tonight Book Babe and I went to Bia Garden, Michael Huynh's beer garden inspired Vietnamese street food restaurant in the Lower East Side (Orchard between Stanton and Rivington) and had a perfect al fresco meal on one of the nicest nights of the summer.<br /><br />After weeks of anticipation in foodie circles, Bia Garden was finally open last week. When we arrived at 6:30, a piece of white paper on which someone had written "Bia Garden" was stuck to the window as identification, but you could have guessed by the line that this was the place.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEP1-8EdMinhDSQjmaksMjzfbH_gHYpw4p3mhTj6BuyTcCJj1c7qNhwaPrDssC0olvAAuzkzusaQVXUvTzp09ogc7S8t522nWnjNBScPLX2nHdTuOh0Lj44jaAa6jyF88YBBXibmKVapc/s1600-h/IMG00021-20090903-1828.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEP1-8EdMinhDSQjmaksMjzfbH_gHYpw4p3mhTj6BuyTcCJj1c7qNhwaPrDssC0olvAAuzkzusaQVXUvTzp09ogc7S8t522nWnjNBScPLX2nHdTuOh0Lj44jaAa6jyF88YBBXibmKVapc/s400/IMG00021-20090903-1828.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377452980687974562" border="0" /></a>The place opens at 6:00, but according to the host, there was already a line at a quarter of. At 6:30, the line of people extended down the short stair case and into the small space that serves as the take out/delivery space of Bia Garden. From that vantage, it was impossible to see the beer garden itself, as the steel refrigerator door conceals the passageway to the garden, so it was hard to gauge what kind of a wait we could expect. But we decided to wait 15 minutes and see if the line moved.<br /><br />Some people left, discouraged, but others left their names with the host, who was willing to call people when tables opened up. We stayed and took in the take out menu (which is different than the eat-in menu includes Bun) and Asian snacks (shrimp chips!) being offered at the take out window.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyJ_9v5uB6OsFQm-tcb9nKIDvWnXU916aE9XRkxUc9iyGjq-JJNXbYIvuW-zKK-PbTQTomgMWySSFPDDDguBYwIN9J3djmzyCeeRst576kkhCgAz8VaAC7f7RznI1t2U9sp2CLoQNoFs/s1600-h/IMG00023-20090903-1830.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyJ_9v5uB6OsFQm-tcb9nKIDvWnXU916aE9XRkxUc9iyGjq-JJNXbYIvuW-zKK-PbTQTomgMWySSFPDDDguBYwIN9J3djmzyCeeRst576kkhCgAz8VaAC7f7RznI1t2U9sp2CLoQNoFs/s400/IMG00023-20090903-1830.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377453012300657730" border="0" /></a>It's a good thing we stayed b/c within 10 minutes, we were happily escorted through the steel refrigerator to the garden in the back, through the beer-bottle lined passageway. The journey to the patio passes the kitchen and is a bit treacherous - a lot of "watch your step's" by the host. The patio, which reportedly seats around 50 people, was packed. The clinking of beer bottles and happy hour chatter filled the air. A large Vietnamese family seated at the large table in the center of the space seemed to be enjoying themselves--an auspicious sign for a Vietnamese beer garden.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDx7pw7bYB81VsSNDTYEdfvluQKRKqD96etuD200bOJWBy7y8QuouekjQ_-F-IRD1C7Y2xo63hhb5kKgaaWNhw337K7YV2hx36a6-q-KXZwMUJoVnnS6K9ifhSjEKOarZVqx60XSsqWHs/s1600-h/IMG00025-20090903-1843.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDx7pw7bYB81VsSNDTYEdfvluQKRKqD96etuD200bOJWBy7y8QuouekjQ_-F-IRD1C7Y2xo63hhb5kKgaaWNhw337K7YV2hx36a6-q-KXZwMUJoVnnS6K9ifhSjEKOarZVqx60XSsqWHs/s400/IMG00025-20090903-1843.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377453258617246594" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNlWKxUmDYvuNsxLP0Dzg5JaBIKRjJA2v4HEHzsavVCpYsfLM_6RfXU3EauNbpEJCczo9nKvtID9Aapn0xHjduEvaMm1tt4UGUUXwzcy3KkQ-armGkOQ02C5Whyphenhyphen1HoTbHmO5TqQ8Ts-Wg/s1600-h/IMG00027-20090903-1855.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNlWKxUmDYvuNsxLP0Dzg5JaBIKRjJA2v4HEHzsavVCpYsfLM_6RfXU3EauNbpEJCczo9nKvtID9Aapn0xHjduEvaMm1tt4UGUUXwzcy3KkQ-armGkOQ02C5Whyphenhyphen1HoTbHmO5TqQ8Ts-Wg/s400/IMG00027-20090903-1855.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377453275622193426" border="0" /></a>The garden has wooden painted tables, for both small and large groups, on which chopsticks and napkins are stuck in empty Cafe Du Monde coffee tins for easy self-service. Menus looks like they were printed just that morning on someone's office printer.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeZVRZWSe32DP5PSTMPlFhyphenhyphen1HNytHyBU9sI3b9E7h2aroXp-P8hmjHjC-YEFFB7_yJyG1WBE_Uu8JK-ceRXydvOGzQIPClghStzcAK42wlSzfQd3vlcMSusbCsEDONEsQSOCgI25aWTmo/s1600-h/IMG00024-20090903-1843.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeZVRZWSe32DP5PSTMPlFhyphenhyphen1HNytHyBU9sI3b9E7h2aroXp-P8hmjHjC-YEFFB7_yJyG1WBE_Uu8JK-ceRXydvOGzQIPClghStzcAK42wlSzfQd3vlcMSusbCsEDONEsQSOCgI25aWTmo/s400/IMG00024-20090903-1843.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377454265489899458" border="0" /></a>Our waiter, possibly one of the nicest waiters I've ever been served by, came by and took our drink orders. The way it works is you order a six pack (or more) of beer bottles off their Asian beer menu, which features beers from all over Asia, and they bring it to you on ice. You're only charged for what you drink. We ordered the "33," a Vietnamese beer, on our waiter's recommendation. A mild, nutty beer. Very nice.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjSjQ0FVPXWB7s9zGjBS-DrDMseMtMOmfA_TVBoduwmg0U3xAeb9RqBH_iV122TIynXsTcUuDK4bZH4N14BAetxrofqcSPovnZEkPHI8ZY4-eypSCIpM9eYhoXyZ8l5fY6QPG1OV32eoo/s1600-h/IMG00026-20090903-1851.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjSjQ0FVPXWB7s9zGjBS-DrDMseMtMOmfA_TVBoduwmg0U3xAeb9RqBH_iV122TIynXsTcUuDK4bZH4N14BAetxrofqcSPovnZEkPHI8ZY4-eypSCIpM9eYhoXyZ8l5fY6QPG1OV32eoo/s400/IMG00026-20090903-1851.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377454253312378482" border="0" /></a>So far so good, but how would the food be? Dishes are arranged on the menu by size - the small dish category had the most items, then the medium dishes, and finally, the large, which featured a lobster.<br /><br />We ordered the green mango salad, shrimp summer rolls, and spare ribs off the small dish menu and the berkshire pork belly off the medium dish menu. Let me tell you, I'd go back for the pork belly and the summer rolls alone - they were that good. Here's more about each dish, in order of my preference:<br /><ol><li>The<span style="font-weight: bold;"> pork belly </span>was PERFECTLY cooked - moist and fatty on the inside and a little crisp on the outside. The dipping sauce, which had the sweetness of a fish sauce, was a perfect complement to the saltiness of the pork. This was by far the standout of the meal. This pork was so good I had to close my eyes and shut up in order to savor its flavor. It was so good I had to pace myself so I didn't eat it too quickly. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLbBhZBYmEHvE2fev_3gJISVM-oBPjYDXGuRZdOBIcADKCdBcGZitWvSlmuWkrup0dcSQt5nrMW_nZ6tFcXZPTPLGK1XC5SC8_G5Hcjik8sJ2yJtSxaVUbF_VJaUTwwONgcOJjFxi0U3Y/s1600-h/IMG00029-20090903-1913.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLbBhZBYmEHvE2fev_3gJISVM-oBPjYDXGuRZdOBIcADKCdBcGZitWvSlmuWkrup0dcSQt5nrMW_nZ6tFcXZPTPLGK1XC5SC8_G5Hcjik8sJ2yJtSxaVUbF_VJaUTwwONgcOJjFxi0U3Y/s400/IMG00029-20090903-1913.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377454261452755122" border="0" /></a></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shrimp summer rolls</span> are a difficult thing to distinguish yourself by. They are pretty standard Vietnamese fare, but these summer rolls were the epitome of freshness. First of all, the peanut sauce they came with was so perfectly balanced - not too chalky or peanuty or salty or sweet - and then, when you bit into the roll, you got a hit of the fresh mint and the perfectly cooked shrimp. A great way to start the meal.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMiHXnJXvg9_AonntGHXujxHbG5VbEe-lWNweJRURP1xRVm63-W6CkYZuttz41OTuukD6RGqUvn78exhJIWQvI6gYzzmhCFUy3tSkN4D4C7JhCfBm29sScK8miMl-s6nSdluKHorcJatw/s1600-h/IMG00030-20090903-1913.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMiHXnJXvg9_AonntGHXujxHbG5VbEe-lWNweJRURP1xRVm63-W6CkYZuttz41OTuukD6RGqUvn78exhJIWQvI6gYzzmhCFUy3tSkN4D4C7JhCfBm29sScK8miMl-s6nSdluKHorcJatw/s400/IMG00030-20090903-1913.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377453312596664034" border="0" /></a></li><li>The <span style="font-weight: bold;">green mango </span>salad was full of flavor - tangy, salty pickled green mango, fish and shrimp flakes, tiny slices of hot pepper. This dish was saltier than I would have liked for a stand-alone salad, but it worked well as a condiment (kind of like a kimchee) to the other dishes.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL-gGkZC0x9S5KzzNIG4SxeF0S3TZOsB_qBAEtBLCZVHGD4OmQcHNBkNYc6XqUxPgvOxKoLufOcXahCrA_1msvKKeNWaZoGXxETru_dTtnFuTFWclkyMJSd7BkYsTPtOPgivpUvAoHc4Q/s1600-h/IMG00028-20090903-1912.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL-gGkZC0x9S5KzzNIG4SxeF0S3TZOsB_qBAEtBLCZVHGD4OmQcHNBkNYc6XqUxPgvOxKoLufOcXahCrA_1msvKKeNWaZoGXxETru_dTtnFuTFWclkyMJSd7BkYsTPtOPgivpUvAoHc4Q/s400/IMG00028-20090903-1912.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377453286205395826" border="0" /></a></li><li>Our least favorite dish was the <span style="font-weight: bold;">pork spare ribs</span>. You could tell there was a nice sweet marinade in the meat, but it was overpowered by the charring on the spare rib. Also, the meat could have been moister. We wanted the meat to fall off the bone, but I had to work to hard to get at it.<br /></li></ol>Three out of four is not bad, and pork belly....seriously good. The beer and the garden atmosphere just adds to the fun. And all for under $35 a head (mind you, we're girls and we only had one beer a piece). In the winter, Bia Garden will be covered and heat lamps will be used, so it'll be a nice place to come back to when I need another casual night out.The Girl Next Doorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12055434276560125241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147882935469559058.post-89850787924683481822009-09-03T12:51:00.011-04:002009-09-03T14:01:54.134-04:00Stuff I've Learned: Last Minute Trips Out of NYC<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBtih9iMx77N8XQfzVUWvw3gj189K0u99JZlAEsYr8OXfljY25mFTx431GTrgfaVPeAq_IJ9ZnjE2oF6u04kLr3paobzuRTpSdQ9VgPkPPj3v6MutHanYqgZ8HN2QjvkEPQMbGrx18Sw8/s1600-h/9-3-2009+1-29-54+PM.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBtih9iMx77N8XQfzVUWvw3gj189K0u99JZlAEsYr8OXfljY25mFTx431GTrgfaVPeAq_IJ9ZnjE2oF6u04kLr3paobzuRTpSdQ9VgPkPPj3v6MutHanYqgZ8HN2QjvkEPQMbGrx18Sw8/s400/9-3-2009+1-29-54+PM.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377294963848223202" border="0" /></a>City Guy, bless his heart, has a demanding work schedule that never allows us to plan a vacation more than a month ahead. Years ago when we got married, I was even worried that he'd have to cut our honeymoon short due to work (luckily, that didn't happen ).<br /><br />The thing is, we love to travel, and by travel we mean, get outside the US. So over the years, we've had to scramble to get last minute trips planned. Our trips to Bali, Mexico, Egypt, Paris--all planned two weeks or less out. So yesterday when City Guy called and said it looked like he could actually take Labor Day weekend off, my trip finding machine went into high gear.<br /><br />Within a few hours, we were booked into the hotel of our choice in Turks & Caicos, two reasonably priced plane tickets (with first class seats on the return!) and I had a name for the best dive shop on the island. Here's what I've learned that helps me with last minute travel:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1, Always have a wish list handy</span>. I store websites for hotels or articles about destinations I' interested in in my Delicious bookmarks so I have them handy when I hear "go!" I also have a top destinations list on my computer. Of course, when you're booking so close to departure, you don't always get your first choice, so be willing to compromise a little. But you'd be surprised, especially in this economy, how often hotels still have availability. Flights are also sometimes cheaper closer to the date of travel, as surprisingly they were for this trip to Turks & Caicos.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2. Know what destinations are close to NYC.</span> For trips of under a week, I don't want to spend more than seven hours on a plane. Here are some of my top close destination picks. Hours listed are for nonstop flights.<br /><ul><li>7-8 hours: London, Paris, Edinburgh, Barcelona, Peru<br /></li><li>5-6 hours: Iceland, Costa Rica</li><li>4-5 hours: Barbados, Mexico</li><li>3-4 hours: Jamaica, Bahamas, Turks & Caicos, Puerto Rico</li><li>2-3 hours: Bermuda<br /></li><li>2 hours or less: Montreal<br /></li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold;">3. Use <a href="http://www.kayak.com/">Kayak.com</a></span> to find the best air fare. Kayak will list airfares it finds and then transfer you to other sites to book. If you can't book a flight through one of the discount sites it sends you to(Travelocity, Expedia, etc.), go directly to the airline sites. Their systems are more up-to-date and accurate for flights that are quickly booking up.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4. Use <a href="http://www.kayak.com/">Trip Advisor</a></span> to find the best hotels, and to learn from traveler reviews what to expect when you get to your hotel. Once I book a hotel, I read the reviews again to figure out things like what part of the resort is best, what activities are can't miss, and any other recommendations from past travelers.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">5. Have a good travel agent</span> to call for upgrades, difficult itineraries or when you're losing your mind.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">6. Have a reputable source for travel insurance. </span>City Guy and I are divers, so it gives us peace of mind to pay $20 per person and know we're covered for medical evacution, in case something happens. <a href="http://www.medexassist.com/Individuals/Products/TravMedChoice.aspx">The policy we get through Medex</a> has a hazardous sports rider, which covers us for activities like scuba diving.<br /><br />We make this work for us because we have to, but we envy those of you who can plan in advance...and spend weeks at a time traveling. Some day. For now, I'm just so excited to be going away. Too many staycations this year, though those can be nice top. Ever notice how quiet the city gets on long weekends? Wherever you are, here or afar, have a great Labor Day weekend!The Girl Next Doorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12055434276560125241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147882935469559058.post-49019386803461721902009-09-02T23:54:00.005-04:002009-09-03T13:40:36.000-04:00Happenings: Jury Duty - Day 3It's over folks! I'm free at last. Boy, what an anticlimactic experience. Here's how it went down:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">9:30 a</span> I arrive to find my fellow prospective jurors holed up in the "lunch room," hiding from the "new kids" who have reported for their first day of jury duty. I feel like a kid who's been held back a year in school. We listen as a guy we've never seen before gives the new kids the same instructions we got on Monday.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">10:15 a</span> After a lot of waiting around, the juror administrator finally takes attendance for our little group of 35. There are a couple no shows, people who made it clear (and not always politely) that they couldn't serve on the trial if it went until Friday. Did they get excused? Or did they just decide not to show up? We're finally allowed back in our windowless room.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">11:00 a</span> The lawyers seem more efficient today. They still seem to ask some pointless questions, but they're finally done with their questioning of the first 16 jurors. How exciting! They leave the room to confer and pick their favorites. They meet with the judge. The juror administrator comes in and tells five lucky people they've won the lottery (not!). The rest of the 16 are let go.<br /><br />Questioning resumes for the final three. Not as entertaining as yesterday. When questioning is done, we know who they'll pick - the nice little old lady in the corner, the sweet fashion designer and the amiable girl with the red hair.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">12:00 p</span> We're done! But wait, you didn't ask me any questions, I want to say. (Prospective jurors 24-35 didn't even get questioned). I had my spiel all prepared. We didn't even have a chance to share our most personal details, like the others did--where they went to school, what they did for a living, how many kids they had, if they had a boyfriend, liked to drink, ever was a victim of a crime, ever was sued or sued, where they lived and for how long, what they liked to do on weekends...On second thought, it's best I never had the chance. In any case, we were right. They picked the three nice women, rewarding the obstreperous and the rude with an afternoon off.<br /><br />The women are told to go to lunch and come back at 2 p. The rest of us are dismissed. The juror administrator passes out or proof of service. "Don't lose this," he says. I won't. It feels good to be done...and it's even nicer knowing I don't have to serve again for six years.<br /><br />P.S. I forgot the most hysterical part. One of the jurors accosts the plaintiff's lawyer as he's trying to leave, "Did you see this article in the Times? Let me read it to you. Fretful or angry jurors are a concern for plaintiffs’ lawyers in civil suits... because the plaintiffs brought the suit and are more likely to be blamed by the jurors for any inconvenience that jury duty caused them. See, you should be careful!" Funny enough, that morning, the Times had published <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/02/us/02jury.html?scp=1&sq=jury%20duty&st=cse">this article </a>on how people are more anxious about jury duty in these hard economic times.The Girl Next Doorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12055434276560125241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147882935469559058.post-36097611240198401062009-09-01T23:22:00.006-04:002009-09-01T23:57:05.199-04:00Happenings: Jury Duty - Day 2<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqKtvuFGV7RllI8OLz1WTj5U2Lq_xmXfLzBZNqzRZUw2uM8eTEAuOdkqQcMrNDDJttg0q4MPbmFHw9CMIQVcy8OYwGxpZQ9pcokNyb0SxI_N-bBkS6Frg-WBJF9fkp8wWIWZsrlba1Anc/s1600-h/IMG00018-20090901-921.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 389px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqKtvuFGV7RllI8OLz1WTj5U2Lq_xmXfLzBZNqzRZUw2uM8eTEAuOdkqQcMrNDDJttg0q4MPbmFHw9CMIQVcy8OYwGxpZQ9pcokNyb0SxI_N-bBkS6Frg-WBJF9fkp8wWIWZsrlba1Anc/s400/IMG00018-20090901-921.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376713976075743874" border="0" /></a>Today was supposed to my day of liberation. If I got past day 2 without being picked for a jury duty, I'd be off scot free for six years. I was very hopeful. Alas...here's my story.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">9:20 a </span>Arrived a bit early for my 9:30 call time. Used the restroom. Found a seat on the aisle. Atmosphere to today is less tense. More jeans and polo shirts. People dressed in casual weekend wear. Also seems to be fewer people today for some reason.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">9:40 a</span> Roll call begins. 10 minutes of names called and people answering "here." A handful of no shows. After roll call, dead silence. I read my magazine.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">10:30 a </span>Men dressed in suits approach the administrative counter. This means someone wants a jury. Sure enough, woman gets on the mic. "This is the moment you've all been waiting for," she says. She calls out 30 names, each with a seat number assigned, which takes about 5 minutes. I'm relieved and happy when my name isn't called. Whew! Back to my reading.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">11:05 a </span>More suits - this time both men and women. A new panel is called. This time 35 names. My heart beats anxiously. And there it is, my name called over the loud speaker. Ugh. I can't believe it. Those whose names were called are asked to write their juror number on their questionnaire and bring it to the counter, then wait for instructions. We shuffle up to the counter and are told to go and have lunch and be back at 2 pm for jury selection.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2:00 p</span> After a 3 hour lunch, I'm back. The prospective jurors from my case are the only ones left in the assembly room. Everyone else seems to have been let go for the day. I overhear confused murmurings about where we should be going - were we supposed to wait in the assembly room or go to the selection room? I wait in the assembly room.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2:05 p </span>An announcement that the prospective jurors on my case should now go to the selection room behind the Statue of Liberty mural at the back of the room. I'm expecting to go to a courtroom, like I did in both my cases in LA, where a judge will preside over selection, but instead, we shuffle into a windowless white walled room stuffed with numbered chairs and one long wooden desk where the opposing counsels will sit uncomfortably close to one another during voir dire.<br /><br />The judge, who curiously isn't wearing his robe, just a suit, stops in briefly and tells us we're breaking at 4:30 p, no matter what, and we may have to come back tomorrow. Groan. Then he leaves, leaving the attorneys to deal with us. I feel like I'm back at school, except the teacher's left the room.<br /><br />Attorneys says they need some time to look through our questionnaires and study us. I feel scrutinized. I try to remember what I wrote on the questionnaire.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3:00 p</span> Attorneys are finally ready to question us for jury selection. They are looking for 6 jurors and 2 alternates out of 35. My odds of getting off are not bad. He asks if anyone can't serve on Friday. A bunch of hands shoot up. Everyone seems to have some excuse. Argh. My odds are getting worse.<br /><br />Plaintiff's attorney gets up and starts explaining and questioning. The impatience in the room is palpable. The natives are getting restless. Some jurors talk back to him. Others make disgruntled murmurs as he questions people. A man and women in the back almost get into an altercation. The attorneys are already mad at each other. When they leave the room to confer with the judge, the room erupts in derisive chit chat. This is a rowdy crew.<br /><br />The attorneys return. The plaintiffs counsel resumes, looks flustered at times. Then it's the defense's turn. A Joe Pesci lookalike and a woman who whispers to him, but never speaks to the jury. More questions.<br /><br />For an hour and a half, lots of questions from which it's hard not to get a picture of what the case is about and what the lawyers wants us to think or not think. They stick to questioning the first 16 prospects only, leaving the rest of the group bored and restless. The 16 think they'll be off after today if the lawyers decide to let some of them go. But no such luck....<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4:25 p </span>The attorneys thank us for our time. What!? The natives are restless. Do we have to come back tomorrow? they ask. They run to get the judge.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4:30 p</span> The judge tells us we ALL have to come back at 9:30 tomorrow. People are upset, esp those among the 16 who thought they were done. People start walking out as the judge is talking.<br /><br />I'm disappointed. I can't help thinking if this were happening in a courtroom, with a judge dressed in a robe, keeping order--as, by the way, it happened in LA--the natives wouldn't be so unruly. Then again, these are New Yorkers. So far, my jury experience in NYC is not as awe-inspiring as it was in LA.The Girl Next Doorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12055434276560125241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147882935469559058.post-25728446589268469142009-08-31T23:41:00.006-04:002009-09-01T00:40:14.315-04:00Happenings: Jury Duty - Day 1Another step closer to being a full-fledged New Yorker today. Served my first day of jury duty. Having postponed my service in May due to vacation plans, I had almost forgotten about my jury summons for today. Stuck a post-it on my computer last week as a reminder.<br /><br />I served on two juries when I lived in California - one in Los Angeles and another in Santa Monica - both good experiences, so how does NY compare? Well, it's only been one day, and a short one at that, but I'm impressed by how efficient the system is. No snags, no lines, no confusion. Not when I needed a postponement, and not today either. The courts are definitely older. Santa Monica was a nice courthouse.<br /><br />Some observations from today:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">8:45 a </span>For some reason, I always get a little turned around near City Hall, but finally found 60 Centre St. Went through xray security and took elevators to 4th floor to jury room 452. Last time I reported to 100 Centre St, where I spent 5 minutes until the guy announced that anyone who couldn't serve should go to the postponement place. 60 Centre St feels cozier somehow, though strangely laid out (two rooms bridged by the area where the administrative desk sits), with wood panelling and massive historical murals of NY on all the walls.<br /><br />The room is eerily quiet. I take a a chair on the aisle in the back. The handful of laptop carrals in the back are already taken - probably need to arrive at least a half hour early to get those. I look around. These chairs are pretty comfortable - mauve leather padded chairs, row after row, filled by individuals in various states of fatigue/unease/comfort/anxiety. Anxious woman with tight bun and red lipstick to match her red button down shirt clutches her summons, eyes darting. Balding man with facial droop stares blankly at newspaper in his lap. Coffee cups, backpacks, and loafers everywhere. Must be comfortable for jury duty.<br /><br />In front of me, a twentysomething woman, no makeup, hair pulled into disheveled mop on the top of her head, dressed in hoodie and sweats - another woman identical to her, same hoodie and hair style sits on the other side of the room. Coincidence? Middle aged woman across the aisle from me, embarrassed when her phone starts ringing, "I have to call you back," she announces testily to caller and slams her clamshell shut.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">8:55 a</span> Black woman whose reassuring voice conjures Nell Carter speaks to us on the mic. Be sure you're in the right location, she tells us...on the right date. We're in the civil division (shucks - I was hoping for a Law & Order type experience). You'll be serving anywhere from 2 days- 2 weeks, from about 9-5 daily. This is your last chance to get out. Got a doctor's note? Can't serve 2 consecutive days? Has your employer written you a note saying business can't continue without you (you're important!)? If so, go get a postponement.<br /><br />(A flurry of activity. Some people leave.)<br /><br />Now I'm going to show you this delightful film on jury service, she says. Starting tomorrow, you won't have to get up so early. And we'll do roll call attendance. The water fountain's here, in front of my desk. Please don't put your face on the water fountain (filthy people!) - use the cups we provide. You can use your laptop anywhere in the room. Wifi should work, or so they tell me. See that room back there - it's the lunch room - if you want to eat, eat in there. Keep your area clean. We don't have much of a cleaning staff (read: one old guy who doesn't get paid a lot). Those desks near the door hold stacks of jury booklets, info cards and questionnaires - grab them. Use a pen that will allow the questionnaire to be filled in the entire way through (huh? - oh carbon paper!) - we have some up here, if you need one.<br /><br />Oh right - qualifications that excuse you from jury duty:<br /><ol><li>you're not a us citizen</li><li>you don't live in Manhattan, Roosevelt Island or zip 10043. </li><li> you're not 18 +</li><li>you're a felon</li><li>you served in the last two years - it's too soon!</li><li>you're the sole caretaker for a child or old person - but that child better not be 14 years old!</li></ol>Anyone need to leave? Okay. Here's the video, she says.<br /><br />Half the room gets up...to leave?...no, to grab the booklets & questionnaire. I wait until the rush is over. Don't want to lose my aisle seat. Video starts. Can't hear. Volume's too low. Are we watching Jesus of Nazareth? What are they doing to these people? Ah, medieval justice. I get it. We've come a long way.<br /><br />Now here comes Ed Bradley to narrate stuff about the legal system...I look around. No one's watching. Next comes Diane Sawyer...video ends. Not sure I'd pass a test on what I just saw.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">9:30 a</span> Orientation resumes. Same woman. If after 2 days you're not called, you're free...for 6 years. Whooppee! Well, that's just for state court, not federal. Right now, lawyers are deciding whether to go to trial or not. We'll pull 30-50 of your names to make up a panel, if they need a jury. There's a sign-out clipboard - write your name down if you need to take a break, even a bathroom break, so we know where you are. (Later I notice people going to the bathroom without signing out.) Call us if you're running late tomorrow. Oh, no cell phones in here - I'll read this official directive - only use in corridors or outside, etc. If you don't you'll get no credit, incur fines, etc...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">9:50 a</span> Here's how to tear up your jury summons to get the important parts. That one's your ID. You keep that. The rest you come up and give to us - that's how we know you're here. Remember tomorrow we'll do roll call.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">10 a</span> (Another woman, a smart looking white lady gets on the mic). Hi, I'm the supervisor of jury rooms. Just the fact that you're here helps the legal process. The lawyers are scared of you (they don't trust you plebes) so they'll probably settle, but we'll know by noon. If they don't need you, we'll let you go for the day (really? sounds too good to be true)<br /><br />Everyone resumes reading. I catch up on 2-wk old <span style="font-style: italic;">New Yorker</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">11:20 a</span> (bespectacled guy gets on the mike). okay, there was maybe one case that needed a jury, but they settled (b/c they're were afraid of you common people), so you're all dismissed. Come back tomorrow at 9:30 a. Remember we'll take attendance.<br /><br />(Mad rush to the exits. Some very excited people in the crowd.)<br /><br />Exciting stuff, huh? Not a single panel called, but what do you expect in the week before Labor Day? So far so good. Let's hope I don't get on a jury tomorrow.The Girl Next Doorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12055434276560125241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147882935469559058.post-49097701551896061802009-07-23T13:28:00.003-04:002009-07-23T14:03:27.425-04:00Things I Love About New York: Zipcar<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvpz7OaYWQZTOLMFVBhBepsWS_ZkuiaIj6QZEr7ibMIu7bY2ztWi7FQBHaKyb55eQmKyKRjCqClKJ17Ud7MGgmNmODCyqnED9AVJZn4p6mIqUtmLI_4Z-7jsMRARTAHRJdc8k7ScaV4yM/s1600-h/IMG00194-20090718-2006.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvpz7OaYWQZTOLMFVBhBepsWS_ZkuiaIj6QZEr7ibMIu7bY2ztWi7FQBHaKyb55eQmKyKRjCqClKJ17Ud7MGgmNmODCyqnED9AVJZn4p6mIqUtmLI_4Z-7jsMRARTAHRJdc8k7ScaV4yM/s400/IMG00194-20090718-2006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361717780732075634" border="0" /></a>I write quite often about the high cost of living in NYC - whether it's the fresh produce, or real estate or toilet paper - that last one is coming in a separate post. "But you don't have to pay for a car or car insurance or gas!" my Angeleno friends offer as consolation. Perhaps. My car <span style="font-style: italic;">was </span>paid off when I left LA. But I digress.<br /><br />When you need to get out of the City, sometimes renting a car is just easier than taking the train. Especially if your destination is some small town an hour and a half drive north of the city and taking the train would mean having your BBQ-hosting friends pick you up from the station.<br /><br />In the past, City Guy and I have rented from the Hertz in our neighborhood. Convenient, yes, but the challenges numerous:<br /><ul><li>It's expensive. You go in thinking you're only going to pay $40/day, but wait, the counter person says, do you have insurance, and hey, it's impossible to find a gas station in Manhattan, so how 'bout prepaying for gas and how many miles did you say you were driving today?<br /></li><li>They operate out of a garage that closes at 10 pm, so if you miss that return time, you have to park the car and pay for an additional day, even if you're returning the car in the morning. </li><li>If you have to park the car overnight, you may find yourself cruising the neighborhood to find an elusive open spot so you can save yourself another $40 in parking fees.<br /></li><li>You never know what you're going to get. We'll reserve a Mazda and get a Chevy, for example, or worse, reserve a compact and get a honkin' SUV.<br /></li></ul>Which is why I have to tell you about my new love, <a href="http://www.zipcar.com/">Zipcar</a>. This past weekend, City Guy and I used Zipcar for the first time since he signed up for membership a while back ($25 one time application fee and $50 for the year). Now that we've tried Zipcar, we'll never got back to Hertz. Here's why:<br /><ul><li>It was soooo easy! Just sign up for membership online. Pick up your Zipcard or have them mail it to you. Reserve a car online. The site shows you what cars are parked near you. Pick a car. Say how long you'll need it. Go to the car. Swipe your Zipcard to unlock the car. Voila! You're in, and wow - are those keys? Yes, they are. No upselling! No counter person or contracts to sign!</li><li>They have all sorts of cars. Driving is fun again. I really do hate those clunky fleet vehicles rental agencies use. Sorry GM and Ford. :( Just for kicks, we rented a BMW for $17/hr - that's the higher weekend rate too - only a couple dollars more an hour than a Mazda, and what a great ride.<br /></li><li>Gas is included. Yup. They pay for the gas. We stopped at a station in the Bronx and all we had to do was use the gas card that was waiting for us in the car to pay. Sure, fill her up! And make that premium!</li><li>Insurance is included in the price, so no awkward decision making at the counter.<br /></li><li>When you're done, you just return the car to where you picked it up and you're done. No one to check in with. No one eyeing you suspiciously. </li><li>Did I mention it's cheaper than renting from Hertz?</li></ul>Not all cities are fortunate enough to have Zipcar yet, and I'm happy to live in one that does.The Girl Next Doorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12055434276560125241noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147882935469559058.post-26909041499130922072009-07-17T18:57:00.005-04:002009-07-23T13:22:32.783-04:00Great Find: Ippudo's Unforgettable Pork Belly<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDzYvfNpgzSYdI7Ps2aw86UJfD_ML_AMSbZQWlUoOyQup3VhEqSG3y8mMPQpbyREGNWVtWa2Fbd8z1I4-usSxX-bPlmUxPXBgC2ZhlpBD73Xu9KzsvseihWrfRxNuB60wSKezN95mSrVU/s1600-h/IMG00189-20090716-1758.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDzYvfNpgzSYdI7Ps2aw86UJfD_ML_AMSbZQWlUoOyQup3VhEqSG3y8mMPQpbyREGNWVtWa2Fbd8z1I4-usSxX-bPlmUxPXBgC2ZhlpBD73Xu9KzsvseihWrfRxNuB60wSKezN95mSrVU/s400/IMG00189-20090716-1758.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361706478418345634" border="0" /></a>Last night, Book Babe and I went to Ippudo, the Japanese ramen chain that opened a while back on 4th Ave and 10th St. In the past, the long lines snaking around the side of the entrance deterred me, but last night, at 6 pm, we were able to get in without a wait. Check out this bar made out of ramen noodles. What a hoot!<br /><br />First off, I have to say I had a minor celebrity sighting -- Govind Armstrong, celebrity chef and owner of Table 8 - walked past me - he's hard to miss with his streaming dreadlocks- and if he's eating there, you know it's got to be good.<br /><br />Okay, so the decor wasn't quite what I expected. Ippudo's stylish, but it's doesn't feel very minimalist or natural, the way you expect Japanese restaurants to be. It's loud and crazy and kinda rock and roll.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ26qNcT6Uqp79dPvyvP1zBj5VRW7JyjxKdzTvl9Qi58KrkN6fVEWWT9HfWtiTNuT3sbxuuXe-v3ULbC0nqr0SHmOkyvFup2df0vuze4UGVPpp6Xtqky1TYNzcO72weqLA-PngycI6WDA/s1600-h/IMG00192-20090716-1855.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ26qNcT6Uqp79dPvyvP1zBj5VRW7JyjxKdzTvl9Qi58KrkN6fVEWWT9HfWtiTNuT3sbxuuXe-v3ULbC0nqr0SHmOkyvFup2df0vuze4UGVPpp6Xtqky1TYNzcO72weqLA-PngycI6WDA/s400/IMG00192-20090716-1855.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361706469817966482" border="0" /></a>We were sat at this sort of fake-fire-pit-bar thing, at the back of which was mirrored glass, which I was facing straight on. It was quite distracting. Here's a photo:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJFT2QU9d9U14nc0R5JOYyOQXCArLciazVQstWlavQATIkAbR8OogJd9r67rnM8WXSUyNKS9BWHHfAwqTAKq4zqCgn1ti-TjVZX4MxTuW3POpkMsMnQd7ikShYxhvDLgHXRUBVCBBPZw/s1600-h/IMG00191-20090716-1805.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJFT2QU9d9U14nc0R5JOYyOQXCArLciazVQstWlavQATIkAbR8OogJd9r67rnM8WXSUyNKS9BWHHfAwqTAKq4zqCgn1ti-TjVZX4MxTuW3POpkMsMnQd7ikShYxhvDLgHXRUBVCBBPZw/s400/IMG00191-20090716-1805.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361706466540949122" border="0" /></a>The noise in the place also gets a bit crazy, with all the ramen guys shouting "Irashaiiii!!" every time someone enters the dining room and a pretty large dining room full of chatter, but the service is fast and friendly, and most importantly the food is good.<br /><br />We started with the Hirata Buns, slabs of succulent melt-in-your mouth pork belly and some lettuce and sweet sauce that complements the salty pork perfectly, all slipped into a mantou bun.<br /><br />Now for the ramen. As far as ramen places go, Ippudo's difference is their <span style="font-style: italic;">tonkastsu </span>broth, made by slowly boiling pork bones, giving it a rich, almost nutty texture. Their handmade ramen noodles are thin and light, not like the greasy, plump curly kind you get freeze-dried in the supermarket. It takes a moment to get used to, but once you're a few bites in, your taste buds are doing a happy dance.<br /><br />I had the classic choice - the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Shiromaru</span>, and Book Babe had the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Akamaru Modern</span>. Both come with a couple slices of that wonderful pork belly that was also in the buns. I had half a boiled egg and some pickled ginger in mine. The Modern had some cabbage, I think, but the main difference between the two is the Modern has a squirt of "special sauce" - maybe the same special sauce in the buns? - and some oil and miso paste, giving it a richer flavor and creamier texture. But the Shiromaru was perfect for me that night, as I wanted something lighter.<br /><br />But that pork - boy, I couldn't get it off my mind. I'm definitely going back.The Girl Next Doorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12055434276560125241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147882935469559058.post-16436357107370597732009-07-10T10:43:00.005-04:002009-07-10T11:40:14.231-04:00Word On The Street: City's Short On Produce<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi72p3QV8zkixPa4BdXclIntJq6mGGvB_t2on6k4QmbuD6BI1Zq9-y8-ipjS_Zy_B6B_RFxg7z6a-K4AN92FftdkDsAf0syk8ciuj8gdz4ISZ2hp9i_u0Tjo-3gAjJ3Z5ewZ46XFqoeuG0/s1600-h/170_7079.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi72p3QV8zkixPa4BdXclIntJq6mGGvB_t2on6k4QmbuD6BI1Zq9-y8-ipjS_Zy_B6B_RFxg7z6a-K4AN92FftdkDsAf0syk8ciuj8gdz4ISZ2hp9i_u0Tjo-3gAjJ3Z5ewZ46XFqoeuG0/s400/170_7079.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356846609969128066" border="0" /></a>This little headline in the Huffington Post caught my attention today: "<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/10/ny-food-how-hard-is-it-to_n_229336.html">How Hard Is It To Get Fruits and Vegetables In the City</a>?" It's so true. New Yorkers don't know how bad they have it. Anytime I visit a produce department in a supermarket (much less a Walmart) in another state, it's like stepping into Eden, with all that bounty.<br /><br />When I moved to NYC from California, I used to go to this little bodega across the street from my Upper East Side apartment. They charged a ransom for the mealiest produce you'd ever seen. In the summer, the place would be swarming with fruit flies - unappetizing to begin with - and whatever produce I bought would be rotten or moldy within 48 hours.<br /><br />There was a Gristedes a couple blocks away, but I swear their produce department is just for the truly desperate--"Yikes, I have a recipe that calls for onions and I'm fresh out. Thank god there's a Gristedes selling really expensive, sickly produce around the corner." I have been this desperate on occasion, but I've learned to plan better<br /><br />I made these produce blunders when I was a grad student and low on funds. Not only did I lose my California tan, but I'm sure my sickly pallor was due to my inability to find tasty, affordable produce in my neighborhood.<br /><br />Now that I have a little more cash flow, the only two places I'll buy produce are Whole Foods and the produce markets on Mott St. in Chinatown. At the former, you're paying a little more, but you know you're geting quality stuff. At the latter, you know the stuff is fresh b/c of the rapid turnover, and it's cheap. I also frequent my neighborhood Zeytuna, which is like a mini-Whole Foods and has a cheaper and better herb section.<br /><br />I'll occasionally stop at fruit stands on the corner from time to time to grab a bunch of grapes or an avocado, but you have to be careful. I always ask the stand keeper if I can sample the grapes before I buy them, and I inspect my produce before forking over the cash. These guys will pick the produce for you if you stand back and mumble "I'd like to get a few apples, please," but when you get home, you'll find your apples are as mushy as your commitment to good produce.The Girl Next Doorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12055434276560125241noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147882935469559058.post-38099438106454280562009-06-29T19:02:00.004-04:002009-06-29T19:11:46.418-04:00This NY Moment: Madoff Sentenced To 150 Years<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5woK3C-fleDJ5MsX7ZpB8mze5ZQAg7guhhV6cMk0Po26n6OdZfkIGrYUQbKh1b_53rKCBK5K4VPqRJiPU6dKZMC461GAtURpF1aAzZaspuRgkeLE67cWFDB7gAQYlu2jXVQehEWmkwlI/s1600-h/IMG00174-20090614-1919.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 260px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5woK3C-fleDJ5MsX7ZpB8mze5ZQAg7guhhV6cMk0Po26n6OdZfkIGrYUQbKh1b_53rKCBK5K4VPqRJiPU6dKZMC461GAtURpF1aAzZaspuRgkeLE67cWFDB7gAQYlu2jXVQehEWmkwlI/s400/IMG00174-20090614-1919.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352889911695753074" border="0" /></a>Came across this sign at a store in the Village a couple weekends ago. It struck me as funny but also weirdly opportunistic. In any case, with news of Madoff's sentencing, I thought it a fitting post.The Girl Next Doorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12055434276560125241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147882935469559058.post-28306018267012260772009-06-22T19:02:00.005-04:002009-06-22T19:31:23.100-04:00NYC Rant: Crappy Spring & Summer Weather<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwmffzAKiMqEyZIiXuF_7S5kZ6T-sf2llznF-DWgCVJuxCFQ8Enicx_yopCV_bqsCAFyFM9uTd_9ekS_7vXZpwji3QYfPLGvyvLJnZQl05EF-3lbCH3GvcZ81OoSyJshMC39PNuoKl65c/s1600-h/IMG00170-20090612-2038b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwmffzAKiMqEyZIiXuF_7S5kZ6T-sf2llznF-DWgCVJuxCFQ8Enicx_yopCV_bqsCAFyFM9uTd_9ekS_7vXZpwji3QYfPLGvyvLJnZQl05EF-3lbCH3GvcZ81OoSyJshMC39PNuoKl65c/s400/IMG00170-20090612-2038b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350298057342738226" border="0" /></a>You knew this was coming. Sooner or later, I was going to jump up on my soap box and complain about the weather we've been having. I think I've been more than patient with the forces that be. Every winter, when I'm wearing three layers of clothing and it's gray outside, and I only get seven hours of sunlight and I'm nearly freezing to death, I remind myself that spring is on its way. Soon, you'll be strolling around the city under your parasol, dressed in your cute summer dresses and your sandals, I tell myself. You'll be eating on that great open patio at Gigino's on the Hudson. It'll be 8 pm and still be warm out! You'll be picnicking!!<br /><br />But really, I feel like a parent who's promised ice cream to her kid and then found the ice cream store is out of business. Aside from a few warm days (which weren't necessarily sunny), it's been cold, wet and overcast all spring long. The meteorologists forecast a day in the upper 70's but it always feels like mid to upper 60's to me. Or, if it is warm, it's disgustingly muggy and rainy.<br /><br />In my nearly six years of living in the city, I have never experienced a spring like the one that just ended, and I'm not optimistic about summer, which officially began yesterday. I'm not the only one complaining--I have heard some truly loyal, entrenched New Yorkers, people who've been living here for decades, complain about the weather too. Even the ducks in Battery Park are regretting their decision to fly back for the summer. (these two were sitting in the public infinity fountain in front of Ciao Bella a week ago).<br /><br />The entire city seems to be waiting with baited breath for the sun to come out. In the meantime, we shuffle around optimistically in our shorts and flip-flops despite the pools of rainwater and the fall-like temperatures, looking crankier and more dejected than ever. We spend our weekends letting our plans for picnics and trips to the Bronx Zoo lapse in favor of a good nap.<br /><br />I'm reminded of the scenes in<span style="font-style: italic;"> The Day After Tomorrow</span> where Manhattan is iced-over, and there are news reports that people are fleeing to Africa where the weather's fine. Whatever the reason, I'm hoping the sun returns, because acceptance of life in NYC is being severely tested by these marathon days of gloom.The Girl Next Doorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12055434276560125241noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147882935469559058.post-47909806847285020012009-06-21T21:58:00.007-04:002009-06-23T10:26:44.916-04:00Happenings: First Visit to the High Line<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXRC4BBSruS5rAP3tRId2Js-W_NKrfGa-6Gx4O5pnJUAxifmXv8-H29lB4_zgc-v8D7goRYm_lHhx7-CgPftZeLaAVmlygJ9IMcunECwdUjA9h-b8sFd_kXZG6xA3UwAt1V4DmmmeYTtQ/s1600-h/dc+071.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXRC4BBSruS5rAP3tRId2Js-W_NKrfGa-6Gx4O5pnJUAxifmXv8-H29lB4_zgc-v8D7goRYm_lHhx7-CgPftZeLaAVmlygJ9IMcunECwdUjA9h-b8sFd_kXZG6xA3UwAt1V4DmmmeYTtQ/s400/dc+071.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349967305068997458" border="0" /></a>As long as I've lived here, I've been hearing about plans for the <a href="http://www.thehighline.org/">High Line</a>. What is it? An elevated park on what used to be a train track, I was told. I couldn't picture such a thing in theory. But this Saturday, I finally saw it for myself.<br /><br />City Guy, a couple friends and I braved the heavy gray skies after brunch and walked the rainsoaked wooden planks. The completed section runs from Gansevoort to 20th St, but entered on 18th St. When done, the park should be a mile-and-a-half long and extend north to 34th St. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxW6w6TvRSdyiAXg321UEg7oAxYXpi7Gs1-z5Ge6P7grtSpXGX4HOK0mFONUwudNl12WTWsXQ0vyZvUw4HLWG0lixHV-Kk5d0hnSAF-lagkW3Tq6dWflC0ppzYmCdj5p2rM-NroE7xqik/s1600-h/dc+072.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxW6w6TvRSdyiAXg321UEg7oAxYXpi7Gs1-z5Ge6P7grtSpXGX4HOK0mFONUwudNl12WTWsXQ0vyZvUw4HLWG0lixHV-Kk5d0hnSAF-lagkW3Tq6dWflC0ppzYmCdj5p2rM-NroE7xqik/s400/dc+072.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349967305433332370" border="0" /></a>It offers a rare elevated perspective on the river and the Meatpacking District and Chelsea and is beautifully landscaped with plants that were supposedly growing on the abandoned tracks (trains haven't run there since 1980).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbnmHw27Chp6cl-0IeaYBwKb9mXo17JNpWr2xVwJyM-ow-EaNY71KlyrFXX_zpggdzyvXwSSrHRswzv9qD6QzfQ4vg3IoMVQ6oP-Jktzwsi576BVMibLvkghnv5NAhsCxwURaHP_FrnMo/s1600-h/dc+073.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbnmHw27Chp6cl-0IeaYBwKb9mXo17JNpWr2xVwJyM-ow-EaNY71KlyrFXX_zpggdzyvXwSSrHRswzv9qD6QzfQ4vg3IoMVQ6oP-Jktzwsi576BVMibLvkghnv5NAhsCxwURaHP_FrnMo/s400/dc+073.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349967308922985154" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEillPHbfE1hxHB4stTkE9g2W97szPprYm6ek5FiM4zSFWVJP2UjlIr_D9BCg1tzy4XqoaIQwaMwMM84sH99Si04wuXygBl4720VVCIqRzdzpqebxQcu5QdzhThUgQvusels9nI9X9rViAo/s1600-h/dc+084.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEillPHbfE1hxHB4stTkE9g2W97szPprYm6ek5FiM4zSFWVJP2UjlIr_D9BCg1tzy4XqoaIQwaMwMM84sH99Si04wuXygBl4720VVCIqRzdzpqebxQcu5QdzhThUgQvusels9nI9X9rViAo/s400/dc+084.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349967562422769314" border="0" /></a>The architecture is well thought out, although I did almost trip on a couple inexplicable bumps in the cement near some benches (to discourage skateboarders?). Some of the benches were sleek and reminiscent of playground slides, but so narrow that anyone with a large behind might feel less than fully supported. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBU10TBtDXy5w_8ITgbQ0NeGkRhQGixvPzuXS535O2QMoy3BqSX8okdz98R916ktiWdCTf7dLK2JG7uNb0o9yvFQaN4MePpwOw2bJsjyLRqBk8qY72p8WREbyecOAShKUddBiHEBzCzuQ/s1600-h/dc+076.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBU10TBtDXy5w_8ITgbQ0NeGkRhQGixvPzuXS535O2QMoy3BqSX8okdz98R916ktiWdCTf7dLK2JG7uNb0o9yvFQaN4MePpwOw2bJsjyLRqBk8qY72p8WREbyecOAShKUddBiHEBzCzuQ/s400/dc+076.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349967549928328946" border="0" /></a>Others were more like beach chairs or beds, sans the adjustable back support. In any case, no one was sitting, as they were wet wet wet. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsZXSwqjhl9FmHHSpXiFoCKNsAAD8OCPNuzggPfxIxOKAFXHP0Cw1r5hC46kj6JH9R8KY1pNg1B19IF9ck6Piz9ciATJaFJtk9j22FgLtifYwZHYSavoBH8IV5Ni9fjjOYG2dOjL7Qm4/s1600-h/dc+079.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsZXSwqjhl9FmHHSpXiFoCKNsAAD8OCPNuzggPfxIxOKAFXHP0Cw1r5hC46kj6JH9R8KY1pNg1B19IF9ck6Piz9ciATJaFJtk9j22FgLtifYwZHYSavoBH8IV5Ni9fjjOYG2dOjL7Qm4/s400/dc+079.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349967552005833266" border="0" /></a>My favorite feature were the windows on the pedestrian bridge over 14th St(?). There is tiered seating so you can while the hours away staring at traffic pass below. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMCgtML36yjlAFFIPu5Pqrkp3qVcSzeHiKNNLuD1CsbqveXYMZXMbn68dPGY7esXc4KhmGvPhNgTmi2Sw_uEdtLgiMMllULtrdEs1L0qVyuRlPGZl0dQ1VpYCLL-CMzrQaYzYbtXeIVo/s1600-h/dc+074.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMCgtML36yjlAFFIPu5Pqrkp3qVcSzeHiKNNLuD1CsbqveXYMZXMbn68dPGY7esXc4KhmGvPhNgTmi2Sw_uEdtLgiMMllULtrdEs1L0qVyuRlPGZl0dQ1VpYCLL-CMzrQaYzYbtXeIVo/s400/dc+074.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349967316017817218" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNdGsEzWf6szcfR150mhRobMC4LmgFt25Z7NlYjC3QRQR0aalhcZOoWxjYdBBpZzqkHuG8ZOAy_xLgduvBTHxdpnoG206-Bbu8uu9BRGTpToSJer6v9yytf4dopCfE-LIa8133y2i7rTA/s1600-h/dc+075.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNdGsEzWf6szcfR150mhRobMC4LmgFt25Z7NlYjC3QRQR0aalhcZOoWxjYdBBpZzqkHuG8ZOAy_xLgduvBTHxdpnoG206-Bbu8uu9BRGTpToSJer6v9yytf4dopCfE-LIa8133y2i7rTA/s400/dc+075.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349967318230454498" border="0" /></a>The fishbowl view from the other side was actually more interesting.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHwuCv4iHo-xCewmwZSfp3ErUdEfPemADKPhjxGHMgJp2BNDtBpRz7sbZ2lPipLAkqVDki_Z-7d4A52HfL6Cw4sTJ5pp2bgaxq2UA5_9avP3qsLRXiQ0ucxFOutR1VLaCXs_9xc6gRc7w/s1600-h/dc+087b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 245px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHwuCv4iHo-xCewmwZSfp3ErUdEfPemADKPhjxGHMgJp2BNDtBpRz7sbZ2lPipLAkqVDki_Z-7d4A52HfL6Cw4sTJ5pp2bgaxq2UA5_9avP3qsLRXiQ0ucxFOutR1VLaCXs_9xc6gRc7w/s400/dc+087b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350529326517329954" border="0" /></a>In this covered bridge above Chelsea Market, an employee from City Bakery manned a small food cart with baked goods and coffee, but wasn't getting much business.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMxNlBBYaJDGCfTf_IxpxcF3j5rC6YRNYDOuGQiZPbcxmCzv4-dLBsgHacnOs6_IC43VOL6nagTyiEPboEtudfkRW4h5od3mDhRhuc4Q2mB5eCLPp5gUsIhEaMRYpPXBRRMpByIL310KE/s1600-h/dc+083.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMxNlBBYaJDGCfTf_IxpxcF3j5rC6YRNYDOuGQiZPbcxmCzv4-dLBsgHacnOs6_IC43VOL6nagTyiEPboEtudfkRW4h5od3mDhRhuc4Q2mB5eCLPp5gUsIhEaMRYpPXBRRMpByIL310KE/s400/dc+083.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349967562385260226" border="0" /></a>What is this striking architectural giant? Anyone know? It strides the High Line perfectly. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0aNqgF-rCdepRwnEGBRSgCDLNnZtXPZRldQSrVO-ow8So3u1gMKxOb1V8QJvL6AzBlJY9SPq2MkEZVpsTk6dHbG5gDLI2yOXintggG3GpGvvPtER1UJSNG4eE6VFssH1XJPn8_7aXGlg/s1600-h/dc+082.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0aNqgF-rCdepRwnEGBRSgCDLNnZtXPZRldQSrVO-ow8So3u1gMKxOb1V8QJvL6AzBlJY9SPq2MkEZVpsTk6dHbG5gDLI2yOXintggG3GpGvvPtER1UJSNG4eE6VFssH1XJPn8_7aXGlg/s400/dc+082.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349967554016832978" border="0" /></a>Saw lots of people taking pictures, but just one runner. He didn't look very comfortable, navigating the flower beds and benches--plus how satisfying could a half mile run really be? The rest of the High Line is still in construction. Looking through the locked gate at 20th St where the completed section ends, we saw plants waiting for new homes. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzDI4IpuAPMXuGHyxh9H9P_ig_R78i5RWlsIObWrMiAonwuTlkIJ7Nwxoeu3SJfWoqhLnhZm-l14sx_C5M8OuiQwbD8_Szchw8frH-VReT2WXoNDVtCq7ZP7LW2alTPlI-kbnhZoJfKAA/s1600-h/dc+085.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzDI4IpuAPMXuGHyxh9H9P_ig_R78i5RWlsIObWrMiAonwuTlkIJ7Nwxoeu3SJfWoqhLnhZm-l14sx_C5M8OuiQwbD8_Szchw8frH-VReT2WXoNDVtCq7ZP7LW2alTPlI-kbnhZoJfKAA/s400/dc+085.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349967652061218418" border="0" /></a>A nice addition to the city and another bonus to living downtown and on the West side. Should be nice when it's complete.The Girl Next Doorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12055434276560125241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147882935469559058.post-84562265904967112222009-06-20T00:37:00.005-04:002009-06-20T01:07:24.159-04:00Happenings: VitalJuice Pop-up Wellness RetreatI love that in NYC you can just be walking down the street and stumble upon some great show. event, restaurant, sample sale, or in today's case, free health fair. This one is being held in the now defunct (so sad) Virgin Megastore in Union Square, so you wouldn't know it was there if some flyer girl didn't tell you about it as you were about to cross the street and head into Whole Foods.<br /><br />"The <a href="http://www.vitaljuice.com/index.htm">VitalJuice </a>Wellness Retreat is going on today," she says.<br /><br />"Is that some kind of drink?" I ask. No, it turned out. VitalJuice is a website where you can sign up for Daily Candy-esque daily email blasts about health and wellness. I was skeptical, but I had some time, so I stepped inside. I'm glad I did.<br /><br />Going from booth to booth, I racked up the following goodies:<br /><ul><li>A bottle of Strawberry Kiwi <a href="http://www.drinkhint.com/">HINT water</a> -- 0 calories!</li><li>2 <a href="http://www.soyjoy.com/">Soyjoy </a>bars - one mango coconut and one berry flavored</li><li>1 <a href="http://www.attunefoods.com/">Attune </a>bar - a new probiotic health bar</li><li>$5 coupon to Whole foods (plus three-bean quinoa salad samples)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6P8orHMWxZCL9ioyNFFl-cpBeOxDNnMSTIEDUhQXSQveFBqGofkJ5N5p4T_EALthwMhRDhOL902lOhb5UxlTnXSIEuLEbc3r_-j43EPxtgsxegCJ7YAeJ-rdAN3fFzM7fVm3hMw6XBRg/s1600-h/IMG00180-20090619-1153.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6P8orHMWxZCL9ioyNFFl-cpBeOxDNnMSTIEDUhQXSQveFBqGofkJ5N5p4T_EALthwMhRDhOL902lOhb5UxlTnXSIEuLEbc3r_-j43EPxtgsxegCJ7YAeJ-rdAN3fFzM7fVm3hMw6XBRg/s400/IMG00180-20090619-1153.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349269576021515394" border="0" /></a></li><li>A bag of make-your-own-trailmix from <a href="http://www.nutritiouslife.com/index.htm">Keri Glassman</a>, maker of Keribar, a new nutrition bar--only 140 calories!<br /></li><li>food samples from nu-kitchen, a personal meal delivery program (tasty bars!)<br /></li><li>sample of GNC's wellbeing line -- I chose the "be-Energized" formula - just add to water and drink before working out and burn 3x more calories (really???)</li><li>skin mapping consultation and eyebrown shaping and Dermalogica product samples from <a href="http://www.oasisdayspanyc.com/">Oasis Day Spa</a> (one of my favorite in the city!); Danna, the aesthetition and Evelyn, the eyebrow expert, were great; they were also offering free massages<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-GnAYSrEmkT1hGnSkHBDIwImoIP_xXNIKh7YzSDuO_7H2TNIGu-5xIPatAvWfgs6B978EkBa1tpimR9H_1ztR_1KGnMZiA0oaTsVJ8AVLLiGINlhuGUVdZ02w6xfh-dhGfxo4JzHtvWQ/s1600-h/IMG00178-20090619-1153.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-GnAYSrEmkT1hGnSkHBDIwImoIP_xXNIKh7YzSDuO_7H2TNIGu-5xIPatAvWfgs6B978EkBa1tpimR9H_1ztR_1KGnMZiA0oaTsVJ8AVLLiGINlhuGUVdZ02w6xfh-dhGfxo4JzHtvWQ/s400/IMG00178-20090619-1153.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349269569983361842" border="0" /></a></li><li>online skincare product consultation from mySkin</li><li>sample of World of Grains crackers (pretty good) and coupon<br /></li><li>...assorted other coupons</li></ul>Oh, and Crunch gym was offering free classes. The event ends tomorrow, so there's still time for you to check it out. The only requirement for getting in is signing up for the VitalJuice email. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9TijynIwAxY6FM_9MFfzlZHV-vS5x5z0EBmkzqdk8-drTD6qkh7PRSVexoj5cv5uYOnIqQoPMzOX6qUBwwBTGmgohgGrONSYAcVmT_x7k1Dg3gh_jtQP8y8frwallR7zQ7aYpFlb48jc/s1600-h/IMG00183-20090619-1243.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9TijynIwAxY6FM_9MFfzlZHV-vS5x5z0EBmkzqdk8-drTD6qkh7PRSVexoj5cv5uYOnIqQoPMzOX6qUBwwBTGmgohgGrONSYAcVmT_x7k1Dg3gh_jtQP8y8frwallR7zQ7aYpFlb48jc/s400/IMG00183-20090619-1243.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349269590234852914" border="0" /></a>The Girl Next Doorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12055434276560125241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147882935469559058.post-63487614856128064182009-05-13T09:14:00.014-04:002009-05-13T17:08:35.869-04:00On My Mind: Stuff I Did This MonthIt's funny how one's blog becomes a document of one's life, and when one doesn't blog, not only do one's readers get the impression one has been sitting at home watching TV (poor shut-in!) but a length of time later, one looks back and realizes she doesn't remember what she did the first two weeks of May 2009 because she didn't write about it.<br /><br />So here I am, sitting at my desk on a beautiful--blue skies and 70 degrees--spring day in Manhattan, catching you up on highlights from the last month or so. Let's see how well memory serves me..<br /><br />Saturday, April 18<br />My first trip to the legendary den of literature and Soviet-era styling. Having heard about the KGB Bar since before my move to NYC, I expect a commanding venue, worthy of the Kremlin or a Constructivist factory. Instead, I find a space the size of my apartment. 50 or so people crowd into the room to hear two very fine readers, both debut novelists. I beg a stranger to share butt space with me on a bench near the wall. On second thought, think maybe small is better when it comes to literary readings, as they can't always count on being well attended.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiXN2FWpZ4V0uQtbXMXyDJZHt_bJpTMuIkJgUHbkML5OiHOvZv7vnBR2phCbvXjf5jL-ufp8gFIRnxHDu7uiofnt7-3YRKd_ca-oSSGez2LdxV-MD2CJsTS55zPPINHy8hPuk3zRi1rl4/s1600-h/IMG00121-20090418-2013.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiXN2FWpZ4V0uQtbXMXyDJZHt_bJpTMuIkJgUHbkML5OiHOvZv7vnBR2phCbvXjf5jL-ufp8gFIRnxHDu7uiofnt7-3YRKd_ca-oSSGez2LdxV-MD2CJsTS55zPPINHy8hPuk3zRi1rl4/s400/IMG00121-20090418-2013.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335302381155462290" border="0" /></a>Friday, April 24<br />City Guy and I take a walk along Hudson River and stumble into a crowd of hundreds assembled in front of the World Financial Center for the Tribeca Film Festival's Drive-in (i.e., hundreds of folding chairs facing a projector screen). The film being shown: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Snapple is the sponsor. People are dressed as characters I don't recognize (is that supposed to be George Bush?).<br /><br />Previous night's film was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Neither film screams "sit and watch!" to me. But it may just be I'm over the very NY "movie in the park" dealio--there's always someone talking through the movie, so if you're there to socialize or make out, cool; if you're there to actually watch the movie, you might want to Netflix it. Beautiful sunset though...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIyiiGejwFGbywBfAoiF-V7JKAQmgw9xPA8QDlJrvDFkek0Bs1LerkPmGZSEjVm6UDdP_y690GknHtycGYyi9uO9sppQPtLeLjdZlI_zRHAzIXId3ncHo5CD7XawxKkppC4UYu1geluPo/s1600-h/IMG00019b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 253px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIyiiGejwFGbywBfAoiF-V7JKAQmgw9xPA8QDlJrvDFkek0Bs1LerkPmGZSEjVm6UDdP_y690GknHtycGYyi9uO9sppQPtLeLjdZlI_zRHAzIXId3ncHo5CD7XawxKkppC4UYu1geluPo/s400/IMG00019b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335302363387416194" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7h1C3NM_YN9d-HOgqb55PG_0UYeAJ_CYX3nl-3D1toUccRR_qsTjl6zK3FcKvfqB3XiCGRIuHw8u5kQzAilaF1n91ZKcNcTlpZAzavPSc3AcxoZSPJvmGIDXrMnadF7zjh0r1_Es2AFQ/s1600-h/IMG00022b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 244px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7h1C3NM_YN9d-HOgqb55PG_0UYeAJ_CYX3nl-3D1toUccRR_qsTjl6zK3FcKvfqB3XiCGRIuHw8u5kQzAilaF1n91ZKcNcTlpZAzavPSc3AcxoZSPJvmGIDXrMnadF7zjh0r1_Es2AFQ/s400/IMG00022b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335302370188294658" border="0" /></a>Tuesday, April 28<br />Miss Fashion and I play hooky and meet up in the afternoon for coffee at <a href="http://www.joetheartofcoffee.com/">Joe The Art of Coffee</a> on Waverly in the West Village. Filled with cute gay boys scoping each other out. Happy that Miss Fashion has introduced me to another good place to meet friends for coffee in the city. Later, I drag her to a real estate appointment and afterwards we get tea and dessert at <a href="http://www.chaanteahouse.com/">Cha-an</a>, my favorite Japanese tea house.<br /><br />Thursday, April 30<br />On my way to meet Book Babe and to my delight, I see <a href="http://www.blogcatalog.com/blog/home-sweet-nyc/02c14a43ffe9ed322e77686543275a3f">Panda </a>coming towards me! I fumble to get out my camera and catch him as he shuffles dejectedly away. See the downward slope of his shoulders and his plastic shopping bag. Love him! He's so damn cute I can't stop smiling.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2VbPv6fscWLSDen7xBEE9PH6p_5Yrch87MzXFZNtEyT6x3ugH9QS8cn1yyHHtps_T55GsbjexwriZ5uMygfo-cKdTlO63uIlFQ-snTZX8VsGLTfxKtEEckEY7bvahrieb4BC_m6WPIXA/s1600-h/IMG00128-20090430-1824.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2VbPv6fscWLSDen7xBEE9PH6p_5Yrch87MzXFZNtEyT6x3ugH9QS8cn1yyHHtps_T55GsbjexwriZ5uMygfo-cKdTlO63uIlFQ-snTZX8VsGLTfxKtEEckEY7bvahrieb4BC_m6WPIXA/s400/IMG00128-20090430-1824.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335306332845411666" border="0" /></a>Arrive at subway and find this poem stuck to a post. Apparently it's <a href="http://www.nyc.gov/html/poem/html/home/home.shtml">Poem In Your Pocket Day</a>. It reads:<br /><blockquote>Circa 1995 by D. Vollaro<br />It slipped in with them,<br />Candy-coated azure gem.<br />The blue M&M. </blockquote>What a lovely occasion and what a lovely poem...I do love M&M's!<br /><br />The evening already off to a great start, I meet Book Babe at an <a href="http://www.blogger.com/NYU%20Creative%20Writing%20Program">NYU Creative Writing Program</a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/NYU%20Creative%20Writing%20Program"> Reading Series</a> event: a conversation about writing between Zadie Smith and Jonathan Safran Foer. Zadie Smith? Beautiful, articulate, funny, insightful, bold--in short, I want to be Zadie Smith. JSF? Smart, great interviewer, quotes liberally from email correspondence with friend Zadie. Note to self: write wittier, more thoughtful emails.<br /><blockquote></blockquote><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3uhITriXiX5_yxQDKy2KWnke6JEBTzF6_EYY4qwVEd0RtEIzRPws2qQKbvrUxhrmWKgGe55l4eM9dCInw9elX6wr-Fk7WHt-dK0710Esf0Z_vxu0844p4X2NKq6kmg2TmwanOKE8Jjg/s1600-h/IMG00131-20090430-1911b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 223px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3uhITriXiX5_yxQDKy2KWnke6JEBTzF6_EYY4qwVEd0RtEIzRPws2qQKbvrUxhrmWKgGe55l4eM9dCInw9elX6wr-Fk7WHt-dK0710Esf0Z_vxu0844p4X2NKq6kmg2TmwanOKE8Jjg/s400/IMG00131-20090430-1911b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335306336356942418" border="0" /></a>After reading, head to Gwyneth Paltrow's newest <a href="http://goop.com/">GOOP </a>recommendation, Sweetiepie for a late dinner/dessert. Delighted by the balloons, mirrored ceiling, gilded cage, and oversized fuschia banquettes, but then again, I am unabashedly girly. Chopped salad and berry cream dessert not bad either. The next day, Book Babe alerts me to fact that Yelpers have been trashing the place. I write <a href="http://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=xV-ktVMQiPq2vWftqEnY-w">my very first Yelp review</a> to share my more positive experience. Then again, maybe we just got lucky.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWp4PAX3hxFfLRCsMmy820xLcVr80fe0aX0HtFqq0gxcbEjg41tWZovyfNoYnB50R7PlnQ4kHR0Mde6ACzZ4OjSgmAqBFilh768ndoVuofH3x0i4jQ1eFvV7MHau74NJ65YWLHEBNmZfs/s1600-h/IMG00147-20090430-2240.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWp4PAX3hxFfLRCsMmy820xLcVr80fe0aX0HtFqq0gxcbEjg41tWZovyfNoYnB50R7PlnQ4kHR0Mde6ACzZ4OjSgmAqBFilh768ndoVuofH3x0i4jQ1eFvV7MHau74NJ65YWLHEBNmZfs/s400/IMG00147-20090430-2240.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335306336658732626" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjadLhvgU73jISq0ffUBKSZxlPA3Sk4EJ_sV_BaZlP6CzwuQPlU2cWLK8mGR68jjPQ2Y-scjgKuKpVayydSg4xoIyv-pqbLNqZeoi8vr2nfp7YFTotXv64QWpxxZXeuUIfYRRa58-CiSsE/s1600-h/IMG00145-20090430-2236.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjadLhvgU73jISq0ffUBKSZxlPA3Sk4EJ_sV_BaZlP6CzwuQPlU2cWLK8mGR68jjPQ2Y-scjgKuKpVayydSg4xoIyv-pqbLNqZeoi8vr2nfp7YFTotXv64QWpxxZXeuUIfYRRa58-CiSsE/s400/IMG00145-20090430-2236.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335310308326354242" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil_EkTBuoqZe1tV89FCD37CXH5DIu99sullN5iqzhgDb3b2dr2JK5MoOyqsEORjq1ngV9hWf8jQRkBwzxdCYMZzuoDEC_7KfQ1Ju5uLQsEtFWqpA_A5wizPV4_hiJymG4FAfzx9nkLcVo/s1600-h/IMG00133-20090430-2041.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil_EkTBuoqZe1tV89FCD37CXH5DIu99sullN5iqzhgDb3b2dr2JK5MoOyqsEORjq1ngV9hWf8jQRkBwzxdCYMZzuoDEC_7KfQ1Ju5uLQsEtFWqpA_A5wizPV4_hiJymG4FAfzx9nkLcVo/s400/IMG00133-20090430-2041.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335310304594120722" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1wL14-8JPs2Pz0hr4ZIbRDx1_oCydWOZo70aK9hz6SCV4C0YJgerJ3Gsb6znndLJpgcoO329cMV-r9_hCQhMdq3Pmtez7wtc36dL2o4zT6XxrdvvsXMtTQxTzqtqPH9ZcETQw3_DZdU/s1600-h/IMG00132-20090430-2041.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1wL14-8JPs2Pz0hr4ZIbRDx1_oCydWOZo70aK9hz6SCV4C0YJgerJ3Gsb6znndLJpgcoO329cMV-r9_hCQhMdq3Pmtez7wtc36dL2o4zT6XxrdvvsXMtTQxTzqtqPH9ZcETQw3_DZdU/s400/IMG00132-20090430-2041.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335310301652691730" border="0" /></a>Friday, May 8<br />Book Babe and I go to a fashion fundraiser her friend has organized. The organization, Fashion For All, takes clothing donations so low-income women can "shop" for clothes for free. The event is held in the showroom of MINT Jodi Arnold and the women attending are all beautifully dressed in this season's fashions--colorful, feminine, flirty, flowy. There's a bar, cupcakes, snacks and an opportunity to buy MINT Jodi Arnold at sample sale prices. We show up with bags of old clothing and get a lovely goodie bag (<a href="http://raw-bags.com/shop/agora.cgi?cart_id=7917323.22696*Z48Yg2&xm=on&product_id=00014">recycled newspaper tote from Raw Bags</a>) filled with cosmetics, reading material, accessories as a thank you . What a score!<br /><br />Afterwards, a short walk to dinner in K-town and dessert at Koryodong--drinks are overpriced, but it's THE after dinner spot on 32nd St.<br /><br />Saturday, May 9<br />City Guy and I go on a double date! Fun times. Meet up with friends at Freeman's only be told there's a 2-hour wait for 4 people...at 6:30! Craziness. The food can't be that good. I suggest <a href="http://www.kampucheanyc.com/">Kampuchea, </a>which is just blocks away. At 6:45, no wait, but the place fills up in the next couple hours. The Num Pang sandwiches are still to die for, but they're still stingy on the oxtail stew (can you call it a stew when it's just two pieces of oxtail and a few carrots?). After dinner, City Guy and I catch a late screening of Star Trek. My inner trekkie is unleashed! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxTdZAwMWELHBBd2sVecMApASgWSpklPaHElyU0evsQQeZkL5zH_q_Arbn8JVumuZilOj8ykds1DKstt-gwIVmiAzOPf8rIUIPTRwltJamp_bQtzBn8IanvJ81Ycro-fBhmg-eEJGTRkw/s1600-h/feb+042b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 334px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxTdZAwMWELHBBd2sVecMApASgWSpklPaHElyU0evsQQeZkL5zH_q_Arbn8JVumuZilOj8ykds1DKstt-gwIVmiAzOPf8rIUIPTRwltJamp_bQtzBn8IanvJ81Ycro-fBhmg-eEJGTRkw/s400/feb+042b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335316935963493026" border="0" /></a>Monday, May 11<br />Almost forgot about this. I have been called for jury duty for the first time since moving to NYC. I show up at 100 Court St at 8:45 am. The guy says anyone who can't serve at this juncture needs to go to 60 Court St to plead their case. I get up and go because City Guy and I have a vacation planned and I won't be able to serve if I am placed on a jury. The people at the postponement place are very nice. I'm free and clear by 9:30! Jury duty postponed until August.<br /><br />Tuesday, May 12<br />Running low on groceries. My list is getting very long. Decide that instead of schlepping to Whole Foods, I'll try Fresh Direct this week. It's been a while. I feel disloyal to my beloved WF, but my grocery cart broke....that's a story for another post.<br /><br />Wednesday, May 13<br />So those were the highlights...in between were sprinkled other commitments, work, miserably cold and wet weather...but this is not a diary, it's a blog, right? Until next time...hopefully that's sooner than later.The Girl Next Doorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12055434276560125241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147882935469559058.post-2113039763015088652009-05-01T11:38:00.003-04:002009-05-01T11:46:10.112-04:00Word On The Street: Bendel's Without Clothes?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii4UQxFWywQxWKE4bRRRmVWOXLP64WtESF0tSjodrwP8l_0YpbDIUBVF6KBQaKv58FQnysCdnqGysl_O5Np4hXxXolS7apMLrEL2PcRtBWBgI64yekzYgTcE6g5M5Fdtp77Tkbb8ViAP8/s1600-h/P1030542b.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 312px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii4UQxFWywQxWKE4bRRRmVWOXLP64WtESF0tSjodrwP8l_0YpbDIUBVF6KBQaKv58FQnysCdnqGysl_O5Np4hXxXolS7apMLrEL2PcRtBWBgI64yekzYgTcE6g5M5Fdtp77Tkbb8ViAP8/s400/P1030542b.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330882173308031362" border="0" /></a><blockquote></blockquote>Came across this bit on the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/01/business/01retail.html?hpw">NYT </a>today:<br /><blockquote>A venerable name in New York retailing, Henri Bendel, is planning to stop selling clothes this summer and focus on accessories and beauty products as it struggles to lure shoppers during a prolonged recession.</blockquote>The article goes on to say the store will be laying off 8% of its employees and get this, Limited, it's parent company, plans to turn Bendel's into a "mall-like chain." Yikes. Is this the end of <a href="http://homesweetnyc.blogspot.com/2008/06/my-happy-stuff-henri-bendel.html">my love affair</a> with Bendel's?The Girl Next Doorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12055434276560125241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147882935469559058.post-4235534895493533732009-04-29T18:34:00.012-04:002009-04-30T15:46:17.470-04:00Neighborhoods: Brooklyn Flea Market and Other Fort Greene AdventuresWhen I think of flea markets, I think of a stadium parking lot filled with rows and rows of vendors, like the flea markets of my childhood. So I wasn't expecting the entire <a href="http://www.brownstoner.com/brooklynflea/about/">Brooklyn Flea Market</a> to fit into the confines of a high school track field. But that made it more neighborhood-y and intimate, I guess. It's definitely worth the trip out, with a nice variety of craft and food vendors, vintage clothing and jewelry dealers and people just cleaning out their attics. I'd say it took us about 40 minutes to walk through the whole thing, and we were mostly just browsing.<br /><br />I'd never been to Fort Greene before, or at least not intentionally. The market is about a 15 minute walk from the 4/5 Atlantic St. Stop, and I confess I used my Google Maps app on my Blackberry to guide me. I always feel I'm on the verge of getting lost when in the BK. Getting off the subway, I swear I was hit up for money at least a few times in the first few blocks of what I assume is Downtown Brooklyn. It's funny how the neighborhood changes as you walk further north and east. Less scuzzy.<br /><br />My first impressions of the market: hipster central. Having decided against my straw fedora and ironic tee at home, I felt a little out of place in my girly sundress, but it was cool. Being uninitiated into this flea market business, I haven't mastered the art of finding treasure amidst clutter, but I did buy a pair of earrings (made not by the vendor, it turns out, but by someone in Bali - $30 - not cheap!) and a peanut butter and chocolate whoopie pie (the ones at<a href="http://homesweetnyc.blogspot.com/2008/07/neighborhood-cobble-hill.html"> One Girl Cookies</a> were better). I was glad to find a couple rows of food booths--nice to see locally produced foods. For those who are famished, they can also buy drinks, corn on the cob, sausage and other stuff and sit and eat on the bleachers with the rest of the hipsters.<br /><br />Here are some photos from our day...vintage kitchen set:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_aT3F77z5-JrRWav8XQbg5UJ8sFgP5wtEXLDQGyJnq2M1uJQe3LSr4QaYOVTmK3iyIsvlVgvkAew4FwSMJzsAAmib-_WOTd0JE2FgMco321nabZhrMJQNwBmb0hm7rlyNfXtsQvh2Spg/s1600-h/IMG_7330b.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 271px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_aT3F77z5-JrRWav8XQbg5UJ8sFgP5wtEXLDQGyJnq2M1uJQe3LSr4QaYOVTmK3iyIsvlVgvkAew4FwSMJzsAAmib-_WOTd0JE2FgMco321nabZhrMJQNwBmb0hm7rlyNfXtsQvh2Spg/s400/IMG_7330b.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330255977879221906" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWC3XmZJIHmmIZcH3yKXm1BITu_4xQwLMi9VPLhjPIEFt5ARwt_upLlDnz_ZjrYIU-odVthuNfX9MM3eKKewOVuhoLVI1E4hNCCGqJZ9L6ao4pSOQEMF60jH6cKTtGdJfmb3AyUeSplo8/s1600-h/IMG_7316b.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 247px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWC3XmZJIHmmIZcH3yKXm1BITu_4xQwLMi9VPLhjPIEFt5ARwt_upLlDnz_ZjrYIU-odVthuNfX9MM3eKKewOVuhoLVI1E4hNCCGqJZ9L6ao4pSOQEMF60jH6cKTtGdJfmb3AyUeSplo8/s400/IMG_7316b.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330255688248203346" border="0" /></a>Charlie Brown and Linus - except what's wrong with their coloring?:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5VM8l3Ud02RQ9YC4WIiRRa3hNkwYXvDRTznOCW_A2SAXjmqsZpumMKr78bF0WbMwHoMzsEVvme56z47FukbLdHyNDfl4IAyHSdxIRrYckNgEWHrGk6dCUGjX-506k-NrYKtt7PCsSqpI/s1600-h/IMG_7329b.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5VM8l3Ud02RQ9YC4WIiRRa3hNkwYXvDRTznOCW_A2SAXjmqsZpumMKr78bF0WbMwHoMzsEVvme56z47FukbLdHyNDfl4IAyHSdxIRrYckNgEWHrGk6dCUGjX-506k-NrYKtt7PCsSqpI/s400/IMG_7329b.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330255978730657586" border="0" /></a>Vinyl dealers:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMHcAbDkMFRh1sVjNhryeU9gumJzQAq7-ttul7WKqi3hKbZE8rW6cMKDwFQhSlzCXz8tiULHkjM6o30v5qwkTEUTEzWCvObVaP0t3EumQg3osiFLMN8HIKQ3Lr8Hc3RS_sY2uYSSY8_g/s1600-h/IMG_7328.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMHcAbDkMFRh1sVjNhryeU9gumJzQAq7-ttul7WKqi3hKbZE8rW6cMKDwFQhSlzCXz8tiULHkjM6o30v5qwkTEUTEzWCvObVaP0t3EumQg3osiFLMN8HIKQ3Lr8Hc3RS_sY2uYSSY8_g/s400/IMG_7328.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330255976222676594" border="0" /></a>Wow - maybe if you had this sectional and nothing else in your very white living room:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN_LKHzFKZFQ9LAalFWWSvNngIhOFzBD9dZQw1DNvwFZpZYIQ2qUWlmQIW02SHgKAh10QOz83c1InOK8QKrKBq2LUg1YGpyIROpaQywjjGIOyCrMPL8niCdbRORDlgQ3RQV3jh84nt-eQ/s1600-h/IMG_7327.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN_LKHzFKZFQ9LAalFWWSvNngIhOFzBD9dZQw1DNvwFZpZYIQ2qUWlmQIW02SHgKAh10QOz83c1InOK8QKrKBq2LUg1YGpyIROpaQywjjGIOyCrMPL8niCdbRORDlgQ3RQV3jh84nt-eQ/s400/IMG_7327.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330255974413119106" border="0" /></a>Kinda cool:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdY0aaDcHSIZj4c-voYiv6x0yMn4Kk_E8UPW78RKQ_iTOb_l9HAMgfwrDAfGeSccLsDx2090J2hj5Bb6aN0ioJZ-iXyYvlzY5MH_wWGiOhYI_PaKH45zp7jy-mfteFYh1MVUO1hGzyXU/s1600-h/IMG_7314b.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdY0aaDcHSIZj4c-voYiv6x0yMn4Kk_E8UPW78RKQ_iTOb_l9HAMgfwrDAfGeSccLsDx2090J2hj5Bb6aN0ioJZ-iXyYvlzY5MH_wWGiOhYI_PaKH45zp7jy-mfteFYh1MVUO1hGzyXU/s400/IMG_7314b.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330255683375158194" border="0" /></a>Pots and pans:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitdbc-XqtTeKjIGYgMd9tSmq1zGJWOWyR3AGm1FYTIWJWMA5ll6z7ss0eld_neByfsC2yzsMpsFwc9LHXNM8B_dF51J366oU0poUXhn6OzUJxouG-PIov2zJ40VxI6OA2WJAWzMeQHVhA/s1600-h/IMG_7326b.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitdbc-XqtTeKjIGYgMd9tSmq1zGJWOWyR3AGm1FYTIWJWMA5ll6z7ss0eld_neByfsC2yzsMpsFwc9LHXNM8B_dF51J366oU0poUXhn6OzUJxouG-PIov2zJ40VxI6OA2WJAWzMeQHVhA/s400/IMG_7326b.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330255839028151730" border="0" /></a>Vintage toys:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnof9NKNyW6-0aN6l0U8IeEX3XDR9Rl7ZhGHeklXMzP6IOtmq19eU6PBihsU8h52-qZ2lhmeyePXdbrJtx1UNnPNOhvH9gK68A2OqLejS41kQSoR5j_eXRws5MOqauAlLK1ygrWCEggp0/s1600-h/IMG_7325b.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnof9NKNyW6-0aN6l0U8IeEX3XDR9Rl7ZhGHeklXMzP6IOtmq19eU6PBihsU8h52-qZ2lhmeyePXdbrJtx1UNnPNOhvH9gK68A2OqLejS41kQSoR5j_eXRws5MOqauAlLK1ygrWCEggp0/s400/IMG_7325b.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330255832658381010" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6lJVxmfXDMT5yeaHd9rhWM7JisDCCkpKtOE2lZX0c1n6ixfgbYPxResQF5WfBVwKfASI6prq4Vl5NFcNPIW3cK8gYSrL73rU1IgP6GSfoIphziay4tfJjIvlwbBsaa2cNYc9blTO17kY/s1600-h/IMG_7313b.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6lJVxmfXDMT5yeaHd9rhWM7JisDCCkpKtOE2lZX0c1n6ixfgbYPxResQF5WfBVwKfASI6prq4Vl5NFcNPIW3cK8gYSrL73rU1IgP6GSfoIphziay4tfJjIvlwbBsaa2cNYc9blTO17kY/s400/IMG_7313b.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330255523609726834" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0D4DI58ec6n9KLEaxRT1uZYCQJ6bO1Gh0b2bYAMue1-P7nh8qNNutZpHkS8-_v6tXaanBaEMM3oi_ZFL_X9btIsaqGsyhCFz43YA5utcj77u2Dk_GPpYKn0JzeY3HEYRkS47KlY2vfOs/s1600-h/IMG_7324b.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 334px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0D4DI58ec6n9KLEaxRT1uZYCQJ6bO1Gh0b2bYAMue1-P7nh8qNNutZpHkS8-_v6tXaanBaEMM3oi_ZFL_X9btIsaqGsyhCFz43YA5utcj77u2Dk_GPpYKn0JzeY3HEYRkS47KlY2vfOs/s400/IMG_7324b.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330255834280652050" border="0" /></a>Sweets!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJCaC8iGIO-VsQ-yyHZCMeuFy2O9MkPwF5-ndZRpmcSxiW_Xrym-07A8zyYAq2CEG_kj0ePzNPsg77CLak9Jqvhk7fZpRSPH6-ZNRMyO1MTL5IChbhEsuTV8sd5iiK2Gm47I01Vmgw1zg/s1600-h/IMG_7323b.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJCaC8iGIO-VsQ-yyHZCMeuFy2O9MkPwF5-ndZRpmcSxiW_Xrym-07A8zyYAq2CEG_kj0ePzNPsg77CLak9Jqvhk7fZpRSPH6-ZNRMyO1MTL5IChbhEsuTV8sd5iiK2Gm47I01Vmgw1zg/s400/IMG_7323b.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330255833492303762" border="0" /></a>Carved right off a pig's leg, for your culinary pleasure:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPsW4JbhVOomXbBo4pkg0Sv1Y26oDAruuBEMva5e7WjoTIV_DN4RBBPRyxs_L5S8XceBPxw_XhdBEy_5oCw9ALuhZpznRiR9pRc_jkZ17B5Yroed2sSagf7GV7po4r1X6tXhFwHBNG1rM/s1600-h/IMG_7322b.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPsW4JbhVOomXbBo4pkg0Sv1Y26oDAruuBEMva5e7WjoTIV_DN4RBBPRyxs_L5S8XceBPxw_XhdBEy_5oCw9ALuhZpznRiR9pRc_jkZ17B5Yroed2sSagf7GV7po4r1X6tXhFwHBNG1rM/s400/IMG_7322b.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330255827780850338" border="0" /></a>Tasty gherkins and other pickled products:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtIgzYuDZ1YJi_4l5gHiRC6OWMhavuW471mG3ZqVvlmeF9qmhtJfHWLHFOB5ZG_ws5u1wCl6USpl8-gzlhSsEsNVm7Ap3aD4nsYiPO9Um5l3F6N8XoE4XT2wjxqTuPOPFu_BLkplwrAuo/s1600-h/IMG_7321b.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 377px; height: 336px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtIgzYuDZ1YJi_4l5gHiRC6OWMhavuW471mG3ZqVvlmeF9qmhtJfHWLHFOB5ZG_ws5u1wCl6USpl8-gzlhSsEsNVm7Ap3aD4nsYiPO9Um5l3F6N8XoE4XT2wjxqTuPOPFu_BLkplwrAuo/s400/IMG_7321b.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330255689744318594" border="0" /></a>More <a href="http://homesweetnyc.blogspot.com/2009/03/great-find-baked-by-melissa-miniature.html">mini cupcakes</a>?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXT8hg5WCBuhHiApp5tD7EoUO_jLoR91R-d-8d4SkUogDGA27EYUu_sEqCOW2dDVT93EDrpGbbIrz_YGjsaI4BwT8HF5s_6oFKH2aHTAq1Y7j9Ul1FCyiRSk4dZN1tJyGyg6PbjCLLKqc/s1600-h/IMG_7320b.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 294px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXT8hg5WCBuhHiApp5tD7EoUO_jLoR91R-d-8d4SkUogDGA27EYUu_sEqCOW2dDVT93EDrpGbbIrz_YGjsaI4BwT8HF5s_6oFKH2aHTAq1Y7j9Ul1FCyiRSk4dZN1tJyGyg6PbjCLLKqc/s400/IMG_7320b.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330255693392492482" border="0" /></a>More baked goods:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL1oQBU9RinevMlYtN51q8qeUsZFJmfrDGNQEY8KQHoyumrXn3xB_HdwxOgL0YY5DqDYWK-CEwzXU7cEuoy9a6EzqRpc7m9NLyWAcZnywmAaRjktxkmS60E5Z3BpWQUqJq9kA2wHAqz_s/s1600-h/IMG_7319b.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL1oQBU9RinevMlYtN51q8qeUsZFJmfrDGNQEY8KQHoyumrXn3xB_HdwxOgL0YY5DqDYWK-CEwzXU7cEuoy9a6EzqRpc7m9NLyWAcZnywmAaRjktxkmS60E5Z3BpWQUqJq9kA2wHAqz_s/s400/IMG_7319b.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330255687375461938" border="0" /></a>$70? Seriously?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikSQhd2WHyvN-l4hDIAdjLwLbRQWuD1w8bqhLHrfM8KZcuu-ToVQHG7d1u8GazTxqKH5kvPnqnF6omzcaFMCHVoFv5kwOOYwKx-7aC-5la6Sna94p_qKl4znIYtFysiQe7L6LfJRCcnBM/s1600-h/IMG_7312b.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 399px; height: 336px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikSQhd2WHyvN-l4hDIAdjLwLbRQWuD1w8bqhLHrfM8KZcuu-ToVQHG7d1u8GazTxqKH5kvPnqnF6omzcaFMCHVoFv5kwOOYwKx-7aC-5la6Sna94p_qKl4znIYtFysiQe7L6LfJRCcnBM/s400/IMG_7312b.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330255522308583362" border="0" /></a>Food and drink!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKBYCnD9xRCvS6jxnbSc_o9WJUkC97z4FVLUi_sIFN4LburxKzGlpy-SBh3UUzbNkjttHwDn1v5j3WFirOr0RQPElG_rBD8ZLjWYOLrn6-e9RcxWsQDFoCRa2CwAdyFfG-kNI0RllLAU/s1600-h/IMG_7311b.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 346px; height: 336px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKBYCnD9xRCvS6jxnbSc_o9WJUkC97z4FVLUi_sIFN4LburxKzGlpy-SBh3UUzbNkjttHwDn1v5j3WFirOr0RQPElG_rBD8ZLjWYOLrn6-e9RcxWsQDFoCRa2CwAdyFfG-kNI0RllLAU/s400/IMG_7311b.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330255519819575986" border="0" /></a>Pretty mirrors:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwAOQ5tbkzHvOOyJRctI9p7Gys3FpadY7l3VNu2j9-diLVk11oyRystc8nAMM87r7NYxC0RmZiD0k-_OSScsMC5t21jgM9TshPwtbeRAgBwg5rFiVlUcJQlWUIfv-qgvcGpUZB0GYQMw8/s1600-h/IMG_7310b.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 329px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwAOQ5tbkzHvOOyJRctI9p7Gys3FpadY7l3VNu2j9-diLVk11oyRystc8nAMM87r7NYxC0RmZiD0k-_OSScsMC5t21jgM9TshPwtbeRAgBwg5rFiVlUcJQlWUIfv-qgvcGpUZB0GYQMw8/s400/IMG_7310b.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330255518707269426" border="0" /></a>Nice little banquette:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUdBWTW9eyQJXySX4yoJMxfSSrOdt2DyiRBxQlVqY5GEGHvH-kv-O5Oq1tZV9nApxkRlZv2tKNqtgkm4UqMGf6WUYdHZ8FREuZhBF2da_3RC6hbTZ1RWh5_iLJxeJcdZsFeBE-Hbwm-PI/s1600-h/IMG_731b7.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 336px; height: 338px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUdBWTW9eyQJXySX4yoJMxfSSrOdt2DyiRBxQlVqY5GEGHvH-kv-O5Oq1tZV9nApxkRlZv2tKNqtgkm4UqMGf6WUYdHZ8FREuZhBF2da_3RC6hbTZ1RWh5_iLJxeJcdZsFeBE-Hbwm-PI/s400/IMG_731b7.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330255519743115042" border="0" /></a>Later, we walked to De Kalb Ave (some strangers told us that's where we'd find the restaurants) and ate at a French cafe called Lou Lou. Cute little garden out back. The kitchen was really backed up that day because it took at least an hour for our food to come out. Food was okay, not great.<br /><br /><br />Garden view:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1G_8-E1GXnhExVeMoyeurLXTPakK0T95yZq2ATlRL47WIydwnxJ9MQf1h9b1UP-Wgp7lArllSoCUAVgk0XXtA9-m0xZVHaWDDNIAqZwp4REroTR8ftQCCrbLFzCZecV2LoZQUtqJxqHA/s1600-h/IMG_7339b.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1G_8-E1GXnhExVeMoyeurLXTPakK0T95yZq2ATlRL47WIydwnxJ9MQf1h9b1UP-Wgp7lArllSoCUAVgk0XXtA9-m0xZVHaWDDNIAqZwp4REroTR8ftQCCrbLFzCZecV2LoZQUtqJxqHA/s400/IMG_7339b.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330256081887337490" border="0" /></a>View from the hatch:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh19lE7-2MFiE6clq18JJF4iuiIoLu4n4xYNtkjTqGUe4IhimY8yfb-OdFpkFDi9fJsOwCG1RQJDhFNIfT8OnnLnmAnO4yg4eaaBVt9AMJnpKVN5gVgd5cpflKM5H5lp9DTmE9vgiKlbeM/s1600-h/IMG_7337b.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh19lE7-2MFiE6clq18JJF4iuiIoLu4n4xYNtkjTqGUe4IhimY8yfb-OdFpkFDi9fJsOwCG1RQJDhFNIfT8OnnLnmAnO4yg4eaaBVt9AMJnpKVN5gVgd5cpflKM5H5lp9DTmE9vgiKlbeM/s400/IMG_7337b.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330255984285238274" border="0" /></a>The Girl Next Doorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12055434276560125241noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147882935469559058.post-87648054289798984802009-04-22T11:43:00.007-04:002009-04-22T12:08:35.946-04:00We're One Year Old Today!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicYRAz3ALcOzLB66B9iy7EvpwtgK3qQDzqnPK8LXDNAAAoOocH6LVIc9tSH5BpgK5w1TYmZKSVBX4xmWa9t56LsCZ4bSQxbpPUNKHWIsw7JzSpkAem-G-rZNnDC7MFQRTGDyALY04kISw/s1600-h/135_3598b.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicYRAz3ALcOzLB66B9iy7EvpwtgK3qQDzqnPK8LXDNAAAoOocH6LVIc9tSH5BpgK5w1TYmZKSVBX4xmWa9t56LsCZ4bSQxbpPUNKHWIsw7JzSpkAem-G-rZNnDC7MFQRTGDyALY04kISw/s400/135_3598b.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327546869683380082" border="0" /></a>Happy Earth Day! And Happy Birthday to us! One year old. Can you believe it? Does NYC feel more like home a year and 129 posts later? Yes, I can say it does. I know its neighborhoods, its quirks, its activities, what it eats and where it shops a lot better. But we've still got a ways to go. On my wish list for year 2:<br /><ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">A home--literally</span>: I have a secret I've kept from all of you. I've been a condo/co-op hunting madwoman. As of yesterday, I have seen almost 80 properties in Manhattan in four months. I haven't blogged about it much because frankly I'm too exhausted when I get home from these open houses and a don't have a lot of energy to write, but I promise to share what I've learned in future posts.<br /></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">A community</span>: I have a patchwork quilt of friendships in this city--a beautiful quilt no doubt with each precious patch from a different part of my life, but a quilt nonetheless. What I'm looking for is a big strong goose down comforter that I can wrap myself up in! Since moving to NYC, I've lost four close friends to relocation, so I always feel I'm starting from scratch with friendships. I'm still dreaming of a "Sex and the City" or "Friends"-type group of close friends but I would settle for a group of people I like hanging out with regularly. So, this year, I pledge to get out there, get more involved and meet more people.<br /></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Success</span>: The dream that brought me to this city is still unfulfilled. This is another long, difficult journey I've kept from all of you. But maybe I'll find the courage to write about it. Until I reach my goal (or make peace with not reaching it?), I doubt I'll really be able to give my heart to this place.<br /></li></ul>Just a few thoughts on this anniversary. Now that I look at my list, it seems pretty obvious. Isn't that what everyone wants? But something about NYC makes getting those things harder than it would be elsewhere.<br /><br />Anyhow, what do you want me to blog about? What do you want to know about my life in the city? About living in NYC in general? Email me or leave me a comment and I'll try my best. Love to all of you.The Girl Next Doorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12055434276560125241noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147882935469559058.post-21052118591084724282009-04-21T19:12:00.012-04:002009-04-22T10:55:06.435-04:00Stuff I've Learned: A Non-Touristy Food Tour of Manhattan (For AnastasiaC)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmn6PSpWo1Y434oZRtRLtSOgBd5MZgZwV3kGXygE_-mwxRo990VRqWoKvhLG8En_3rapMVjorl_n8lEkiwgJVOxckovRwzESnjVwcH7okzHGhRiQ8oyeBD-Ghn-n_mkLjyW-AFXHsuh3M/s1600-h/172_7240.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 327px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmn6PSpWo1Y434oZRtRLtSOgBd5MZgZwV3kGXygE_-mwxRo990VRqWoKvhLG8En_3rapMVjorl_n8lEkiwgJVOxckovRwzESnjVwcH7okzHGhRiQ8oyeBD-Ghn-n_mkLjyW-AFXHsuh3M/s400/172_7240.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327321745502929010" border="0" /></a>One of our readers, AnastasiaC, is planning a trip to NYC in September and wants to know where the locals eat and play. Smart girl. How else are you going to get the real flavor of NYC? Not at the top of the Empire State Building, that's for sure.<br /><br />So, AnastasiaC, here are some of my favorite NYC eats. Good rule of thumb: if the restaurant is located in Times Square, Herald Square or near a major tourist landmark, it probably isn't very good. You'll have to travel to find some of these places, but you'll taste some of NYC's best food:<br /><ol><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fuel up for your day </span>with a great brunch or breakfast. If it's the weekend, try <a href="http://homesweetnyc.blogspot.com/2008/09/things-i-love-about-new-york-parisian.html">Sarabeth</a>'s at the Whitney Museum (you can see some art afterwards), the classic Odeon or homey Bubby's in Tribeca (save room for pie), Cookshop or Jane, if you can stand waiting in line. Go early to avoid long waits.<br /></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lunch for less</span> at one of the Jean Georges restaurants (only $24 to eat at some of the best restaurants in the city--<a href="http://homesweetnyc.blogspot.com/2008/09/great-find-perry-street.html">Perry St</a> is my favorite). Go down home and ethnic by venturing to Chinatown and grab some amazing Vietnamese Banh Mi at Saigon Banh Mi Bakery and hot juicy dumplings at <a href="http://homesweetnyc.blogspot.com/2008/10/great-find-good-dumpling-house.html">Good Dumpling House</a>. Another day, go to <a href="http://www.chelseamarket.com/">Chelsea Market--</a>a mall full of amazing food and treats. If you're feeling adventurous, Ethiopian at Meskerem or Malaysian at Nyonya in Chinatown.<br /></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sit down for afternoon tea </span>at <a href="http://alicesteacup.com/">Alice's Tea Cup</a> (don't skip the scones) in the Upper West Side, <a href="http://www.chaanteahouse.com/">Cha-an</a> (try their green tea macarons and earl grey chocolate mochi), or Teany, the Vegetarian tea house in the Lower East Side owned by Moby.<br /></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Indulge your sweet tooth </span>with chocolate chip cookies at <a href="http://homesweetnyc.blogspot.com/2008/10/stuffive-learned-non-touristy-tour-of.html">Jacques Torres</a> (ask for it warm) or Levain Bakery. <a href="http://chinatownicecreamfactory.com/">Chinatown Ice Cream factory</a> for some of the most unique ice cream flavors in town. Chocolate at <a href="http://homesweetnyc.blogspot.com/2008/06/my-happy-stuff-henri-bendel.html">The Chocolate Bar</a> at Henri Bendel (go shopping afterwards) or Vosges in Soho or Jacques Torres (Love this place). Grab pain au chocolat at Patisserie Claude and macarons at <a href="http://homesweetnyc.blogspot.com/2008/09/things-i-love-about-new-york-parisian.html">Madeleine Patisserie.</a> Cupcakes at Billy's Bakery in Chelsea (better than Magnolia's, in my opinion, but you might want to stop at the <a href="http://homesweetnyc.blogspot.com/2008/10/stuffive-learned-non-touristy-tour-of.html">cupcake stand made famous by Sex and the City </a>anyhow--go to the West Village shop for the authentic experience). </li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Get dressed up and splurge on dinner with a celebrity chef. </span>For big and fabulous: Gramercy Tavern, Eleven Madison Park, Gilt, Megu, <a href="http://homesweetnyc.blogspot.com/2009/03/this-ny-moment-dinner-for-no-special.html">Park Avenue Summer</a>, Le Bernardin, Bouley or <a href="http://homesweetnyc.blogspot.com/2009/03/nyc-birthday-daniel.html">Daniel</a>. For small and delicious: The Little Owl, WD-50 or Blue Hill or any of the Momofuku restaurants. Or pick any other Frank Bruni <a href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/r/restaurants/three_star_restaurants_nyc/index.html">three </a>or <a href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/r/restaurants/four_star_restaurants_nyc/index.html">four </a>star restaurant available on <a href="http://www.opentable.com/start.aspx?m=8">OpenTable</a>.</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">People watch </span>in the Meatpacking District at Pastis or Spice Market or the too cool Lower East Side at Inoteca or Stanton Social.</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Don't miss</span> a shack burger at Shake Shack, a hot dog at Grey's Papaya, pizza at Adrienne's on Stone Street, shabu shabu at Shabu Tatsu, BBQ at Blue Smoke (you can also grab dinner during a jazz show downstairs at the Jazz Standard)<br /></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Have a late night bite</span> after cruising in the village at Ukranian restaurant Veselka, have a slice of famous Italian cheesecake at <a href="http://www.venierospastry.com/">Veniero's</a> or stop into one of the many Japanese restaurants on St. Mark's Place in the East Village. </li></ol>This is just one Girl Next Door's opinion. If you want others, visit my favorite NYC foodie sites: <a href="http://eater.com/">Eater</a>, <a href="http://chowhound.chow.com/boards/18?tag=bd;main_body">Chowhound Manhattan Board</a>, <a href="http://chowhound.chow.com/boards/18?tag=bd;main_body">NY Mag's Grub St</a>. Have a great time, AnastasiaC! NYC is the king of food towns!The Girl Next Doorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12055434276560125241noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147882935469559058.post-44988717441272825962009-04-20T19:15:00.004-04:002009-04-20T19:24:00.655-04:00This NY Moment: First Springlike WeekendThe city came alive this weekend, as evidenced by the gorgeous trees in bloom along the bicycle path in Battery Park, the skateboarders and recumbent bicyclists near the World Financial Center and the tons of people out and about on the lawns, restaurant patios and sailboats.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK5OApT1xD4RfBDZWqc0oaqaSkDVHeY1ngAmqfle6jRqafBoCZ_cfYy7IawrbacUeqlg0aG7prEJMNQFpdy49xhWV947ebUrmmlslA-ZzJ9OsjGE_arIMxlO38Ic4NGkUJihr7RYLJFck/s1600-h/IMG00099-20090418-1219b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK5OApT1xD4RfBDZWqc0oaqaSkDVHeY1ngAmqfle6jRqafBoCZ_cfYy7IawrbacUeqlg0aG7prEJMNQFpdy49xhWV947ebUrmmlslA-ZzJ9OsjGE_arIMxlO38Ic4NGkUJihr7RYLJFck/s400/IMG00099-20090418-1219b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326917359996080994" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4plIj_ylzg3C22p6Vu-Udwbr7DpDcxoIbNvVsyXVIEdmozoNko1s-COdxcv47OBXgp0q1uFejXQpUy7xwBYAOWRaUgu4TB1ieqnMw3Gz8ncB4ch7GwV_Ih7045_LSDUR3RjJ2ychPAGc/s1600-h/IMG00101-20090418-1220n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4plIj_ylzg3C22p6Vu-Udwbr7DpDcxoIbNvVsyXVIEdmozoNko1s-COdxcv47OBXgp0q1uFejXQpUy7xwBYAOWRaUgu4TB1ieqnMw3Gz8ncB4ch7GwV_Ih7045_LSDUR3RjJ2ychPAGc/s400/IMG00101-20090418-1220n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326917363402620770" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9aFsmriVDCCvSoWMoowLHxVbGe54vKZDxkMCWB238F1R0c_q58CFyqyZ3TAP6V8xyErPvebLmd4aG3gWtdcRJ5vrEk-G2E32fQV9KRGIEBFp2UouWGXh1umLtNpt0nwJD5o4GMxowxOM/s1600-h/IMG00110-20090418-1606b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 189px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9aFsmriVDCCvSoWMoowLHxVbGe54vKZDxkMCWB238F1R0c_q58CFyqyZ3TAP6V8xyErPvebLmd4aG3gWtdcRJ5vrEk-G2E32fQV9KRGIEBFp2UouWGXh1umLtNpt0nwJD5o4GMxowxOM/s400/IMG00110-20090418-1606b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326917367801619074" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU4sWBbRyXL5ho_yFj67uSM4SC_FhQWr3vR_pjQ8gwaVDH4BjTRvugeZ2RmsV9HQoKHz89i36KGSL12cpbzIuZFwnEkvRtFBg6SKaWO0DfhQYmohxhxhPq_ToS8qSlOPbVy1zoKr5mvvY/s1600-h/IMG00115-20090418-1610b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 373px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU4sWBbRyXL5ho_yFj67uSM4SC_FhQWr3vR_pjQ8gwaVDH4BjTRvugeZ2RmsV9HQoKHz89i36KGSL12cpbzIuZFwnEkvRtFBg6SKaWO0DfhQYmohxhxhPq_ToS8qSlOPbVy1zoKr5mvvY/s400/IMG00115-20090418-1610b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326918132474904434" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcI4j1awlylfDAyQW4qlJkV_wdWUCVIYakeMArMxW7-mImAxJVFDYmxzzbkGDSckidtxj4BhHWSa5Gd6XLNSrvGn3LA3PXc63x1iz7s5Prl67oPWAznaIT71765S5-rdAORvQQGJouN2I/s1600-h/IMG00113-20090418-1608b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcI4j1awlylfDAyQW4qlJkV_wdWUCVIYakeMArMxW7-mImAxJVFDYmxzzbkGDSckidtxj4BhHWSa5Gd6XLNSrvGn3LA3PXc63x1iz7s5Prl67oPWAznaIT71765S5-rdAORvQQGJouN2I/s400/IMG00113-20090418-1608b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326917372027553794" border="0" /></a>Not all the trees were in bloom yet, however...Don't worry guys. Your time will come!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLAqtNfjqrQ8w6PxPuyqkz95eaMsSwUqXW7Yngn-IO4g0mL_9i8igge7vbnFfUPKm5fIq-3Z3mAi3Mm8bDHEBr1y41SKykb2HWIu7Swvw99RqsinyC4rdQx2qV2Ty_I52ZpvhyphenhyphennWZi7eQ/s1600-h/IMG00120-20090418-1618b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLAqtNfjqrQ8w6PxPuyqkz95eaMsSwUqXW7Yngn-IO4g0mL_9i8igge7vbnFfUPKm5fIq-3Z3mAi3Mm8bDHEBr1y41SKykb2HWIu7Swvw99RqsinyC4rdQx2qV2Ty_I52ZpvhyphenhyphennWZi7eQ/s400/IMG00120-20090418-1618b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326917373156491794" border="0" /></a>The Girl Next Doorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12055434276560125241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147882935469559058.post-11870352140351641922009-04-17T20:10:00.007-04:002009-04-17T21:18:55.380-04:00On My Mind: Cheating On New York CitySorry I've been AWOL, folks. I spent a couple weeks in Mexico and Texas, but now I'm back. Mexico was lovely-85 degrees and breezy. Texas was surprisingly cold for April. Here's a souvenir from my trip. I took this shot of the sun rising on my way to the airport on my last day in North Dallas:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm9_2NcSSsbXIetO4EN51xh4WEmnDHNVQLm_zRs0Vc6DDQlPrSBc0KSgYinuIy_yca0MCRyJrKorrjvrgaF5N6zVTiKBdAuN28yNmXbFS-1TfOik2Ymj8KsI8c5OfeVjpGgn824a97ssA/s1600-h/tex.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm9_2NcSSsbXIetO4EN51xh4WEmnDHNVQLm_zRs0Vc6DDQlPrSBc0KSgYinuIy_yca0MCRyJrKorrjvrgaF5N6zVTiKBdAuN28yNmXbFS-1TfOik2Ymj8KsI8c5OfeVjpGgn824a97ssA/s400/tex.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325818514702785474" border="0" /></a>It was a striking sight and a rare moment of stillness and beauty. It got me thinking of the things I miss living in NYC. Don't get me wrong. I have family in Dallas and have spent much time there but have always considered the city flat in more ways than one. But this time was different somehow.<br /><br />I kinda liked driving for miles and seeing cattle poking around on acres of ranchland, or hearing the chickens squawking in the backyard, or going to Walmart and seeing the cornucopia of fresh produce being sold for dollars less per pound than in the City. I liked how slow everything and everyone was, and how people worked with their hands and bodies, tilling the earth or putting up new houses. A life less glamorous? Yes. But simpler and more comfortable, I think.<br /><br />I know I'm romanticing things, but that's what getting away is for, right? Recharging the batteries that don't get charged at home?<br /><br />You know by now how I've struggled with feeling at home in New York. But I was thinking maybe I'm trying too hard. It's okay to love some things about this city and not others. What's wrong with appreciating other places? It's ridiculous and unnatural for me to feel I have to pledge some oath of loyalty to New York City. I know New Yorkers who say "Stop complaining. If you don't like it, then leave" or "You just can't cut it here" but that attitude is downright provincial...either said person has never lived anywhere else or is masking his/her own ambivalence about our City. Just a thought. Still, glad to back home.The Girl Next Doorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12055434276560125241noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147882935469559058.post-52269259794714370042009-03-27T17:25:00.007-04:002009-03-27T18:03:33.963-04:00Great Find: Baked By Melissa Miniature Cupcakes<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiBYoP2lYMEwIOIajjRPMDa7tLED4baJF4b_Nm4WKxAZ6eVCH1eOI0Pv177onmMAhsWB6VQcv49os2q8gt0A3lZUiuzGWOryrZodQL9Dh6iFgYIBbbGQFy8U2SKJ5i93WZmiQ3e6__doQ/s1600-h/IMG00053-20090327-1602c.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 360px; height: 336px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiBYoP2lYMEwIOIajjRPMDa7tLED4baJF4b_Nm4WKxAZ6eVCH1eOI0Pv177onmMAhsWB6VQcv49os2q8gt0A3lZUiuzGWOryrZodQL9Dh6iFgYIBbbGQFy8U2SKJ5i93WZmiQ3e6__doQ/s400/IMG00053-20090327-1602c.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317986262449375714" border="0" /></a>I was minding my own business, shopping in Soho today, when I pass a line of more than dozen people all leading up to a little window in a wall. I get closer and realized this closet-sized establishment is called Baked by Melissa (on Spring Street between Mercer and Broadway), and their sole fare is miniature cupcakes, as you can see.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-pafB3TGf-ExGM_wII1oUlNQpkifqi0DmSzKNcMCyLFjVxUpoyvYYFbwAW9tvh02XqYYrsfPG7w8q1nJYAXQ3w_SrQYChMxqqQOBPPH6YHd0uPg9whNG6OakRlbxr_yMU0Oym1oZYuOg/s1600-h/IMG00055-20090327-1602b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-pafB3TGf-ExGM_wII1oUlNQpkifqi0DmSzKNcMCyLFjVxUpoyvYYFbwAW9tvh02XqYYrsfPG7w8q1nJYAXQ3w_SrQYChMxqqQOBPPH6YHd0uPg9whNG6OakRlbxr_yMU0Oym1oZYuOg/s400/IMG00055-20090327-1602b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317986261706751346" border="0" /></a>So although I've already bought macarons from Ceci-Cela, I stand in line. I know all of you would want me to report back. The line doesn't move very quickly, as it turns out, because the girl who works the window has to climb up on a stepladder and retrieve each mini-cupcake from racks stacked to the ceiling behind her. What a work out.<br /><br />The question those of us in line had was how small are these things and how many should I buy? The minimum purchase is 3 for $3. Then it's 6 for $5.25 and 12 for $10. I decided on the dozen, so I could try all the flavors I wanted to, and have leftovers for City Guy.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB2rh6qeCDdrbF7Le3pANbYFazP4IjdCSIi-Cwbnv9YdH4_dJTJ7D-TJjOz6GVtj11YU2_Bep9ZX_A1XQVh97_2futhuwuvRh1DNdrVSaD0s5LgZMDiqLQK9ZHgaVGDwj_pWocoax28dA/s1600-h/IMG00056-20090327-1603b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB2rh6qeCDdrbF7Le3pANbYFazP4IjdCSIi-Cwbnv9YdH4_dJTJ7D-TJjOz6GVtj11YU2_Bep9ZX_A1XQVh97_2futhuwuvRh1DNdrVSaD0s5LgZMDiqLQK9ZHgaVGDwj_pWocoax28dA/s400/IMG00056-20090327-1603b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317986264181422354" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYvZ3oBUlgcLppYnm4Op6BL7f50oSIK02aa9fxZ0ZxKqylYXw7-sAY_Newo9lxoEPFl1TGFowxAx5K3uPBLSmRke2edBlSNepboY121QLxtg8Wn22F4vcMHyezNDtxqImYjn37-yRAEME/s1600-h/feb+059b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYvZ3oBUlgcLppYnm4Op6BL7f50oSIK02aa9fxZ0ZxKqylYXw7-sAY_Newo9lxoEPFl1TGFowxAx5K3uPBLSmRke2edBlSNepboY121QLxtg8Wn22F4vcMHyezNDtxqImYjn37-yRAEME/s400/feb+059b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317984925727265554" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSV__smJ3mQd2CgcQi5qRNAKPOA1dOkIO58qaj0BTCnp_rCq8qXK4y8kWmiABMCBra5PwapTxqQuHy9GRGJbKxu2TM0hIm_HaueThTFtKNjdPvveDQZNgE4vlYmITr42f2zFLKOT0MO2Y/s1600-h/feb+056b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 284px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSV__smJ3mQd2CgcQi5qRNAKPOA1dOkIO58qaj0BTCnp_rCq8qXK4y8kWmiABMCBra5PwapTxqQuHy9GRGJbKxu2TM0hIm_HaueThTFtKNjdPvveDQZNgE4vlYmITr42f2zFLKOT0MO2Y/s400/feb+056b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317984934238129090" border="0" /></a>Of the seven flavors, I tried five (skipped the Tie-dye and Peanut Butter & Jelly), and let me tell you, as I type, I am experiencing a truly great sugar high. The answer to the burning question in line is illustrated below. That's the red velvet sitting next to a soup spoon. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyHDMjv_v6E5PqRK_x8NDH7tPJi04e8UiTOajzDWaeq24f8lFzEcPlgY0TebWv0AqPxtyzxe-rr7cdqB2jZ_sxVXwlnFqtRDuonHunHvPF20LvDSrPVaqPyI6v2ksW6FYWK7etyX-rKP0/s1600-h/feb+064b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyHDMjv_v6E5PqRK_x8NDH7tPJi04e8UiTOajzDWaeq24f8lFzEcPlgY0TebWv0AqPxtyzxe-rr7cdqB2jZ_sxVXwlnFqtRDuonHunHvPF20LvDSrPVaqPyI6v2ksW6FYWK7etyX-rKP0/s400/feb+064b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317984940652835362" border="0" /></a>I'd say four or five of these things make one regular size cupcake. As a snack for one person, the three is perfect. For two people, the six is good, but if you're hungry go for the 12. The genius of the thing is the cake to frosting ratio, which is very high, as you can see. All of the cupcakes except the Tye-dye and Red Velvet have injections of filling into the middle. The cake is very moist and blends well with the flavorful frosting, and someone has obviously put a lot of thought into how to evoke the quintessential flavors of each cupcake--the s'mores have the graham cracker bit stuck in the middle, the peanut butter cup has a strong peanut buttery frosting, sticky cookie dough is injected into the middle of and tops off the cookie dough cupcake, the red velvet has a white cream cheese frosting that evokes homemade, the cookies and cream has Oreo bits on the top and the white frosting tastes like Oreo filling.<br /><br />My favorites were the S'mores (check out the graham cracker bit laced with marshmallows in the chocolate ganache frosting) and the Cookie Dough (the yellow cupcake to its right, both injected and topped with a dollop of cookie dough), but they're all good.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQqPVaB-7CPGVbFC-sLv69lVV3VJhUFZ2doiczER3ypXjcAhq6-XdMNu86L2SI5QcI88tHCnZDJ8v0av95kBR6SMPn-08Tnmx6KFyqx2lX6eC-ogWsH-0HfgPzKCEaq0tDFFt2Y45GzJo/s1600-h/feb+057b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQqPVaB-7CPGVbFC-sLv69lVV3VJhUFZ2doiczER3ypXjcAhq6-XdMNu86L2SI5QcI88tHCnZDJ8v0av95kBR6SMPn-08Tnmx6KFyqx2lX6eC-ogWsH-0HfgPzKCEaq0tDFFt2Y45GzJo/s400/feb+057b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317984934511481010" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj835IbBG_ODo4WI3GH9luGaGlz9TDcBzIt_9EAXcUrKSGJRvNSrih5ampJ-BwH-XigNKrarMKaB0Qgdw063lMYiLnyycyTumVwUyPUJoUsih1cIHDfcFBfe_e_zHPvAJYHInePHQ3xD9k/s1600-h/feb+058b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 390px; height: 336px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj835IbBG_ODo4WI3GH9luGaGlz9TDcBzIt_9EAXcUrKSGJRvNSrih5ampJ-BwH-XigNKrarMKaB0Qgdw063lMYiLnyycyTumVwUyPUJoUsih1cIHDfcFBfe_e_zHPvAJYHInePHQ3xD9k/s400/feb+058b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317984936234371218" border="0" /></a>Someone who works in the area says the window is only a few weeks old. In case you're wondering where they fit the oven in the crawl space of a store, the girl at the window says the bakery is in a separate location downstairs. You can also order in bulk (100+), but you have to order in advance.The Girl Next Doorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12055434276560125241noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147882935469559058.post-88221636124657418382009-03-25T22:39:00.008-04:002009-03-25T23:40:24.666-04:00Great Find: Momofuku Milk Bar<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7jit624OS3p33cqh-hY8x0rDMbW01ttIyEgFwOeN8l00kCN7XJLQUY_N9SpwgfKidZhXxhQNqAr7qfYRfNdDiAm1yFPqThKGhfeFotvJUZb57YcImu7vxsGM6uQeFWEnFE0ebTz9f16w/s1600-h/IMG00052-20090324-2014b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 373px; height: 312px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7jit624OS3p33cqh-hY8x0rDMbW01ttIyEgFwOeN8l00kCN7XJLQUY_N9SpwgfKidZhXxhQNqAr7qfYRfNdDiAm1yFPqThKGhfeFotvJUZb57YcImu7vxsGM6uQeFWEnFE0ebTz9f16w/s400/IMG00052-20090324-2014b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317328538411817010" border="0" /></a>Let me just say <a href="http://www.momofuku.com/bakery/bakery%20menu.asp">Momofuku Milk Bar</a> isn't technically a "find" - every foodie in town knows about it, and well, it' s been on my list since it opened, but on this blog, if I try it and I like it, it's filed under "Great Find." So you already know how I feel about the place. Went there last night with Book Babe. Whenever she and I get together, we talk writing, books, Gossip Girl, our dysfunctional families...and we eat, dinner and dessert always, in separate places.<br /><br />Last night, we concentrated our efforts in the village. Dinner at Soba-ya--I had the kitsune soba, my go-to dish, which comes with a side of two inari sushi. Not mind-blowing soba, but tasty nonetheless and friendly, fast service. Our entire dinner took a record 45 minutes. I always enjoy my meals there.<br /><br />Afterwards, we took a stroll in the cold up to 2nd Ave and 13th to go to David Chang's sweet heaven. First impressions--good vibe. The entrance is actually around the corner on 13th, not on 2nd, but you can see everything going on in the place b/c of the floor-to-ceiling windows. Last night, the crowd was downtown couples, hipsters, Asian foodies, and Momofuku Ssam reservation holders (the ones wearing the ties) standing around, eating out of cardboard containers.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvnmlBU3wqmVynDbhhAsE8u9mmnmw0ndHw9A6k6Spp0MUiklHBVs6WsGow1Fv2nfHSjNhZDrz2IiyuxktfzV6kIZTuaxFOteiWyGAjwV_G9Czz0C1JFAWzujFQfzUllJ-mhvj71K7Mj_w/s1600-h/IMG00049-20090324-1939b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvnmlBU3wqmVynDbhhAsE8u9mmnmw0ndHw9A6k6Spp0MUiklHBVs6WsGow1Fv2nfHSjNhZDrz2IiyuxktfzV6kIZTuaxFOteiWyGAjwV_G9Czz0C1JFAWzujFQfzUllJ-mhvj71K7Mj_w/s400/IMG00049-20090324-1939b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317328541495830914" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2poIAwxEYIOnWuJTg6ZBtvuxqcAD2APLyhavq5okU66uKJGcraUq4HS5L_92ect3ejliTHWo38v4S1_CYT2cw8oMbjxppdPUM9nvhINn67EnbxD0DH-bx-wCuqmXHgg_RUsqIHpCLH9Y/s1600-h/IMG00048-20090324-1939b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 395px; height: 336px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2poIAwxEYIOnWuJTg6ZBtvuxqcAD2APLyhavq5okU66uKJGcraUq4HS5L_92ect3ejliTHWo38v4S1_CYT2cw8oMbjxppdPUM9nvhINn67EnbxD0DH-bx-wCuqmXHgg_RUsqIHpCLH9Y/s400/IMG00048-20090324-1939b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317328538780813842" border="0" /></a>(where the neon "milk" sign is is a hallway that links the bakery to ssam--don't even have to go outside; very clever)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLV8wXhejQqZ_HQHkrZqm1674CjPRi4EOAiFHNdkRMI-SNF1IXH9Zxt1nz9LuxUrv-AUIB2IZwKXa6Fz2AlbP2sJ8836dzByjIqwm_k0xd_oceqJvJQ6XTlyzRPAChiMBRWgSDSTRFYpQ/s1600-h/IMG00050-20090324-1939b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 357px; height: 336px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLV8wXhejQqZ_HQHkrZqm1674CjPRi4EOAiFHNdkRMI-SNF1IXH9Zxt1nz9LuxUrv-AUIB2IZwKXa6Fz2AlbP2sJ8836dzByjIqwm_k0xd_oceqJvJQ6XTlyzRPAChiMBRWgSDSTRFYpQ/s400/IMG00050-20090324-1939b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317329195699444498" border="0" /></a>Between the two of us, we had:<br /><ul><li>Pork Buns: slices of pork belly cradled in Chinese buns; very tasty, although the roast pork at Big Wong's still can't be beat (2 for $9)<br /></li><li>Cereal milk: let cornflakes sit in milk until soggy; strain and serve in soda cup, and you have a hit on your hands; I admire the creative effort, but this was just too weird for me; then again, I'm not crazy about cereal, unlike the people standing nearby, who seem to be enjoying the cones of cereal milk frozen yogurt, one fruit loop flavored ($4/cup)<br /></li><li>Composte cookie: this chocolate chip cookie supposedly contains potato chips, pretzels and other stuff in it; the cookie retains the crunch of the chips - I had thought they were cornflakes, but cornflakes were on the brain, b/c of the above; good texture, crispy on the edges with a chewy center peak, just how I liked my cookies, but very rich ($1.75 each)</li><li>Candy Bar pie: this thing called to Book Babe from the display case - topped with chocolate covered pretzels, in the cut view, you can see the chocolate crust, peanut butter filling, caramel oozing out the sides and topped with a layer of hard chocolate; what a Reeses would be if it grew up and moved to NYC ($5/slice)<br /></li><li>Key Lime cake: the surprise winner of the night; took a slice home for City Guy, who likes fruity desserts. With competition from all the above, I have a feeling the key lime cake gets overlooked here. The girl who packed it up for me hadn't even tried it. But I tried a bite when City Guy was enjoying it later and wow - this is amazing cake - the cake layer is flavorful, but not too fluffy or dense; sour cream frosting and a surprising layer of crispy graham crumbs and a base of graham crackers ($5/slice)</li></ul>Really fun little spot and I definitely want to go back. Glad to say for once, the food has lived up to the hype. What looked good for next time: crack pie, dulce de leche cake, cinnamon bun pie and blueberry cream cookie.The Girl Next Doorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12055434276560125241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147882935469559058.post-62766338448785826522009-03-23T21:59:00.004-04:002009-03-23T22:31:48.918-04:00This NY Moment: Dinner for No Special Reason at Park Avenue Winter<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW0-eYgtfqeY0DpSLBtdWhZbYo3CF4Huqwl6UmJIGV-3EgOUkBMikA3DtDFBjEfGRlW98taiOy2cRjnNFJ8ab-pQnXjczfc-sl7hVawPDaeCR-LFuTQ-nfpiPM-pNed82_G5mAJkGRhyU/s1600-h/IMG00047-20090321-2051.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 263px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW0-eYgtfqeY0DpSLBtdWhZbYo3CF4Huqwl6UmJIGV-3EgOUkBMikA3DtDFBjEfGRlW98taiOy2cRjnNFJ8ab-pQnXjczfc-sl7hVawPDaeCR-LFuTQ-nfpiPM-pNed82_G5mAJkGRhyU/s400/IMG00047-20090321-2051.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316575207865754002" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Now This is Winter</span><br />City Guy surprised me by taking me to dinner at <a href="http://www.parkavenyc.com/">Park Avenue Winter</a> on Saturday night. There's nothing like getting dressed up and going to a nice restaurant for no particular reason.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Vfj2xPc3TG0onVSBjyP4fp4_zBI7B1r8GQ_bPtL1FCywVELzuUa_KynxUhUS6O800CDnxPE5B_efm9cQ3-LN8T7yCqt2xs4twgcVRQOk8nvQjwOdvjqVJx5Hv221zonbdPhLHTF7psU/s1600-h/IMG00035-20090321-1834b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Vfj2xPc3TG0onVSBjyP4fp4_zBI7B1r8GQ_bPtL1FCywVELzuUa_KynxUhUS6O800CDnxPE5B_efm9cQ3-LN8T7yCqt2xs4twgcVRQOk8nvQjwOdvjqVJx5Hv221zonbdPhLHTF7psU/s400/IMG00035-20090321-1834b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316575197434752034" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt6nO3jFmwWqMSVQHtVvd3yN8dp9tZXS-xEBTDOlWLJ-2qIHAMzV02jCygvCcMXk78PZP7xRBRMufUPphyphenhyphenp5OZ4imWucar7huy2s2aKxJiBclynHrlPoZcJsN4XGvz9rvQ7VilaoNmYA8/s1600-h/IMG00038-20090321-1851b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt6nO3jFmwWqMSVQHtVvd3yN8dp9tZXS-xEBTDOlWLJ-2qIHAMzV02jCygvCcMXk78PZP7xRBRMufUPphyphenhyphenp5OZ4imWucar7huy2s2aKxJiBclynHrlPoZcJsN4XGvz9rvQ7VilaoNmYA8/s400/IMG00038-20090321-1851b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316575201777920706" border="0" /></a>When we arrived for our 6:30 reservation, the restaurant was still bathed in the warm light of the setting sun, and I struck by how peaceful and beautiful the space was. AvroKo, the celebrated design firm, responsible for making the restaurant over every season, really captured the best things about winter in their 2009 space, with soft grey fur on the wall, matching fur lined throw pillows on leather banquettes, bare branches in glass vases, gossamer white curtains, snakeskin place mats on wooden tables. These photos taken with my camera do not do the space justice.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Almost Perfect</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Meal</span><br />After taking our drink orders, the server came over with an amuse bouche of a potato fritter topped with a dollop of lemon creme fraiche. Crunchy on the outside, moist and warm on the inside. A great beginning. Then came a bread basket with brioche bun, walnut/raisin, pumpkin loaf and flat bread. The first two were very flavorful; the flat bread too hard.<br /><br />I started with the cured lemon caesar salad; City Guy with the sweet bay scallops appetizer off the special menu. Both superb. The caesar salad had a tart dressing I really enjoyed; the scallops had been seared and covered in a sweet cream sauce--so soft and delicious, they melted in your mouth.<br /><br />For my main course, I had the miso glazed lobster with clam chowder beurre blanc. The server brings you the split lobster then pours the beurre blanc over the lobster. You can use the toasted mini-baguette to sop up more of the sauce. It also comes with a small onion and arugula salad. This was by far the highlight of the night. Sweet, salty, tender, delicious.<br /><br />I would highly recommend the potato latkes--crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, served with two kinds of sauces--one was a rosemary sauce; the other, which was tangier, like a yogurt, was my favorite.<br /><br />Sorry to say, City Guy's filet mignon over braised short rib was dry and flavorless, the nadir of the meal, if you will. Braised short ribs should be moist and the muscle fibers falling off the fork, but this had a consistency closer to pulled pork. Oh well. Perfection is a rare thing.<br /><br />For dessert, we had to try the Chocolate cube--a box of hard chocolate filled with chocolate mousse with pieces of what I was told was fruit cake (though I didn't taste the fruit ), served with a side of ancho chill chocolate sorbet (okay, not great). If you're a chocoholic like me, you'll enjoy this sugar high. If not, you might find it too sweet. City Guy wished he had ordered the apple pie in a box.<br /><br />Over the course of the night, the lights were dimmed, and couples and quads of Upper East siders, many of them over fifty and wearing jackets (which surprised us since the restaurant was recently on Gossip Girl), filled very corner of the dining room. The service was okay--not the best or the worst in town--a bit cold--but it did grow more negligent as the room filled. After our main course, it took our server a very long time before checking with us for our dessert order and later, to bring us our check. As Downtowners, we did feel a little out of place, but sometimes it's fun to be a tourist in your own town.The Girl Next Doorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12055434276560125241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147882935469559058.post-2152423119673565842009-03-20T15:09:00.008-04:002009-04-18T11:38:43.609-04:00On My Mind: It's Officially Spring!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-QZu7sAb582EZxxG4joxur53MmzzP9bXBx8k_8cKhY8Jin-ZT7hDZZp6QRktv5TPDxvAfYTifiNJNrTDcOmR9WvWIHrqD_nZOb0TIpnZyLBLh3Zux5WZTua340TtTsENMnMqFnvCFj7M/s1600-h/P1020900b.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-QZu7sAb582EZxxG4joxur53MmzzP9bXBx8k_8cKhY8Jin-ZT7hDZZp6QRktv5TPDxvAfYTifiNJNrTDcOmR9WvWIHrqD_nZOb0TIpnZyLBLh3Zux5WZTua340TtTsENMnMqFnvCFj7M/s400/P1020900b.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315355242560352834" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dreaming of a White Easter?</span><br />What was up with the snow flurries this morning? But wait! That's a question a newbie would ask. I, on the other hand, have learned that there is always a snow storm in NYC the second or third week of March...I think there was one in April a couple years back, though I can't be sure. Just saying - snow during spring ain't no big thing.<br /><br />If you're new to NYC, you think, "Spring equinox! Yay. Time to shake out the spring dresses and pack away the wool. Time for long walks in the park!" Well, hold your lambskin a few weeks. I don't know about you, but I was still wearing my winter coat yesterday...and my hat and gloves. The weather will be in the 50's and even lower in the evenings for a while.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Blink and You'll Miss It</span><br />Spring, like fall, in NYC is a fleeting, wonderful, almost imagined experience. It lasts for maybe a week, and if you're not paying attention, you'll have missed it, finding yourself on the other side of hot and humid. But if you're stopping to smell the roses, or in this case, tulips, courtesy of the <a href="http://homesweetnyc.blogspot.com/2008/04/nature-citys-in-bloom.html">Department of Parks and Recreation</a>, you'll enjoy observing the entire city waking from its winter doldrums.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Spring Wishlist?</span><br />Another difference between NYC and LA--in LA, I didn't shop for the seasons. Here, the beginning of spring means thoughts of shopping. But who can afford it? If I had to prioritize, this is what I'm eyeing this spring:<br /><ul><li>The perfect raincoat. Last spring/summer was a wet one. Rain on me once, shame on me; rain on me twice, I want to look cute</li><li>Colorful statement accessories...especially earrings, hats and shoes. I'm getting kinda sick of black, tans and greys, though somehow, in winter, they seem very chic<br /></li><li>The perfect cardigan. A little secret about myself - I'd rather be hot than cold. Which is why I hate being caught without the right outerwear when: a> the a/c is blasting in some store that I stepped into to escape the heat, b> a cold front is moving in and I'm in line for <a href="http://homesweetnyc.blogspot.com/2008/06/happenings-big-apple-bbq-festival.html">bbq </a>or c> the sun has set and I'm people watching at a sidewalk cafe. For several seasons, I had the perfect lightweight white cardigan, but then the ultra delicate fabric turned dingy, so now I'm in the market for a new perfect cardigan--an impossible task, but wish me luck. </li></ul>What are you looking forward to this spring?The Girl Next Doorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12055434276560125241noreply@blogger.com0