Great Find: La Maison Du Chocolat Opens On Wall Street

A while back, I had heard La Maison du Chocolat, my favorite Parisian chocolatier in NYC, was opening a shop at 63 Wall Street...i.e., in my neighborhood and in the building of my former residence no less, but it was only during my snowstorm jaunt on Friday that I discovered that the glorious event had already happened! A month ago, I was told. It's a nice sized store, smaller than the location on the Upper West Side, but comparable and perhaps slightly bigger than the Rock Center location. I noticed a small seating area in the back of the store for anyone who wants to mange in-store. In any case, I picked up my favorite Caramel macarons to celebrate...and they were as luscious as ever. I hope this store stays afloat during the economic downturn, as it's nice to have good chocolate in walking distance.

Christmas In NYC: Stalking the Tree Lightings

Watched both the Bryant Park and Rock Center holiday tree lightings on TV, which was good enough for me, at least this year. I'll have to go one year when I'm feeling strong enough to stand out in the 40-degree cold for 3-4 hours, which is what I'm sure you have to do to get a spot in the crowd with a sight line. Bryant Park does it right - they lit their tree first and then cued up the entertainment. I just felt sorry for the folks at Rock Center - not only did they probably get there a couple hours early to find a good spot, they had to wait 2 more hours for Harry Connick, Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers to entertain before the tree got lit. Since I'm not a 14-yo girl, that would have tried my patience.

There's another tree lighting happening today, however, in front of the Stock Exchange on Wall Street. Since it's just up the street from me, and it's not as "big" an event as the others, maybe I'll muster up the strength...here's the info:

The New York Stock Exchange will hold its 85th annual Christmas tree lighting on Broad Street between Wall Street and Exchange Place. Activities will begin at approx 3:15 p.m. A tradition since 1923, the NYSE’s tree lighting is believed to be the city’s oldest. Lighting this year’s NYSE tree will be the "Queen of Soul" Aretha Franklin. Ms. Franklin will perform two songs from her newly released, first ever holiday album, “This Christmas Aretha”. Also performing at this year’s tree lighting is Victoria Cuomo, Brendan James, the Monsignor Donovan Choir, Push Play, Tiffany Giardina, Gavin DeGraw, and the stars of the Broadway musical White Christmas.

It's Aretha Franklin, for Christmas sake! Miley Cyrus, eat your heart out.

On My Mind: 9-11 Seven Years Later

Coming home tonight, this is the view I saw.A nice crowd--among them quite a number of photographers with tripods--was milling about in the pedestrian mall outside the Rector Street 1-line stop, admiring the lights, which for me, have been a yearly treat since

It's hard for me to believe it's been seven years since the towers came down, just as it's hard for me to believe it's been five years since I moved here. On my first trip to New York in 1994, I remember being captivated by the beauty of the those buildings. I still look at pictures of the twin towers from that trip and can't believe I was lucky enough to have seen them with my own eyes. What's so very moving about these memorial lights is that, in a way, they're just as majestic and imposing as the Twin Towers were.

In that majesty, even someone like me, who wasn't in NYC on September 11, 2001 to observe the streets and the business suits coated in ashes herself, can understand what an grand act of destruction occurred that day. Those who attacked us must have felt the same sense of majesty I had felt, a sense of majesty that perhaps extended to New York City at large, and at the same time they were moved by it's beauty, they wanted to destroy it, like a sad miserable outcast child seeks to destroy some other kid's shiny new toy.

I think about City Guy, who lived here, within blocks of the Twin Towers, and could not go home for weeks afterward because the fall of the Towers had knocked out the electricity in the area and the air was so filled with particulate matter that the government was afraid for people's health.

Then, after they let residents return to the area, people like City Guy lived for years amidst health warnings and the financial devastation of the Financial District. Five years ago, businesses left standing after the attack were closing, people were moving, and at night, the streets were empty. Those who stayed behind were living in a ghost town.

But the amazing thing is people like City Guy loved this city so much they hung on. People like City Guy stuck around and rebuilt the area and now, it's thriving again. No one could have predicted FiDi would become a place where so many young couples would think to raise their families. Today, there are strollers and toddlers everywhere. Schools have had to start waiting lists.

Today, I guess it finally dawned on me why it would be hard for City Guy to say good-bye to this city. Whenever I talk about how much I hate New York or miss LA, City Guy is thinking about how much he loves this city, how much he's been through with this City. I really get that now.

People eventually came back. And others, like me, moved to New York City, even when people back home asked "Aren't you worried about another terrorist attack?" because this is where you live out your dreams.

This City never let fear get the best of it, and when I see the rest of the country--people living in States and cities that have never even been to New York--use 9-11 as an excuse for their fearmongering and war cries, I get very sad. More killing, more death is not in the spirit of 9-11. And certainly not in the spirit of the heroic firefighters, police officers and rescue workers who perished that day. They were New Yorkers, and they were fearless, and I find great inspiration and hope in knowing that.

Cool Spaces: Trinity Church

Funny how you live in the City for years and every day, pass the same buildings, some of them famous enough to be visited by thousands of tourists a year, and one day, you decide, hey, I feel like going in, and you do, and you find that a sanctuary from the world has always been just right there, a few blocks from your house....in this case, one replete with grand Gothic arches and scintillating stained glass windows and brass sculpted doors so beautiful you find yourself standing in the doorway as tourists edge past you. And you wander through and find a little gallery no bigger than your apartment where there's an exhibit about your neighbors, and you see photos and read quotes from people you pass every day, and you suddenly feel a bit more at home. And at the end of it all, you step outside and find a lovingly maintained cemetery with gravestones from the 1700's, half of them so worn by the elements that you can't read who was laid to rest there, but you think, that's okay, because by now, they're part of the daisies growing there before you, and you realize you are not alone. You were never alone.

Real Estate: Condo Search 101

As I mentioned before, City Guy and I are new to the NYC condo market, and it's my job as the one with the more flexible hours and the greater background in real estate (my family) to do the homework.

Today, I took advantage of this stormy weather to stay indoors and get organized. I spent forever on Street Easy, looking up condos in the FiDi (Financial District for you newbies), and just by looking through all the listings and the new development listings, I feel confident that I now know all the major condo developments with available units in our price range--about 25 in all. I made a spreadsheet! I know--pretty nerdy--but I love Excel for organizing my life!

Tomorrow, we're going to try and hit up 5 or 6 open houses. Should be fun.

Other steps we've recently taken to get organized:

1. The other day, City Guy and I made a "condo wishlist" which I think was another good way to figure out our baseline expectations as a couple for our new home. It was good to know we were on the same page.
   
2. We figured out our money situation, which means now I know what to look for in terms of price, common charges and taxes.
3. We ruled out Battery Park City, which I've loved from afar for a while. I just love the waterfront and all those "green" buildings! But the common charges and taxes are ridiculous - almost $2000/month sometimes and I'd happily walk a few blocks to get to water if it means saving a chunk of change.
   
4. We agreed that our first choice in neighborhoods is FiDi. Both of us have lived in this area for many years. We've seen it evolve and we believe there's great growth potential in the next 5-7 years. I found out today that living in FiDi, our future kids would have a great school district - PS 234--and we'd be close to the waterfront parks, which I would take over Central Park any day. Plus, we believe it's our best bet for finding a place for less than $1000/square foot downtown.
   
5. We're giving ourselves a 6 month to 1 year time frame for purchase. That gives us time to really do our homework.
   
6. If we don't find a place in Manhattan, we'll start looking in Brooklyn. Williamsburg has some very nice waterfront developments, though they're a hike from the nearest subway stop. Brooklyn Heights is also very nice.
7. I got a little folder to keep all my floor plans, info sheets and other real estate stuff in one place
   

Oh, and I found a couple more condo resources (in addition to the ones I listed before):

• Wired NY Real Estate Boards
  
• The Real Deal
  

Hope it doesn't rain tomorrow so I can see how the light streams into those southern exposure units!

NYC Life Made Easier: Automated Postal Center

When I was a kid, I had an odd fascination with the post office. That distinctive smell of postage stamps and envelopes that hits you when you walk through the door was reassuring somehow. Everything felt very organized in post office world. Good things would be coming in the mail...if you waited long enough. Of course, I was at an age when mail addressed to me consisted mostly of birthday cards, letters from pen pals and long-awaited cereal box rebate toys.

I still have a fondness for post offices, but in NY, they always seem to have lines. And my nearest full-service post office is at least 10 blocks away, north of Ground Zero, and like I said before, New Yorkers prize efficiency. In LA, at least I could drive to the post office with my big packages.

Some time last year, we were walking in the neighborhood and noticed this empty little street-level store with these machines against the wall. Turns out, it's a post office...without postal workers. They're called automated post centers (APC). At first, I wasn't sure I could trust these machines. Was someone coming out regularly to calibrate these scales? Could I get my mail insured here? Or send my stuff priority? Turns out I can do almost everything I can do in a post office at this quiet little automated postal center. And usually, when I go, there's not a single other person there. Is nice. I like.

Anyone else have one of these in their neighborhood? I'm not talking about the APC's that are in the full-service post offices, off to the side, for those sick of waiting in line. I mean, these empty storefront ones. I did have a crisis of conscience at one point - how many postal workers would lose their jobs if these machines took over the world? Then I figured, the postal clerks don't seem very happy anyway, and this way, they can work behind the scenes, sorting and delivering the mail without interacting with the public. Should be a win-win situation, right? Still, the APC doesn't smell like the real thing...and I will miss browsing the pretty collectible stamps. They don't have those either at the APC.

Great Find:Financier Patisserie

People always complain that the Financial District isn't homey, and well, it may not be as homey as some other parts of NYC. But if you're looking for a place to have coffee with a friend or are craving some french pastries, Financier Patisserie on Stone Street is a great spot for a number of reasons.

1> It's on Stone Street, a historic cobblestone street that still smacks of the days when George Washington was hanging out in the 'hood.
2> I love french macarons. They are one of my favorite things in life. Good ones, that is. Not those dry little round imposters some cafes pass off as the real thing. And Financier's got decent ones. Moist, good flavors. It's no Laduree or Pierre Herme, but when one can't get to Paris, one makes do. They've also got palmiers, madeleines, and an amazing looking apple galette.
3> They serve Illy coffee, which I have it on good authority is quality coffee, notches above Starbucks. In the morning, your coffee order comes with a yummy little financier.
4> Gelato!
5> It's not Starbucks!