Stop and Smell the Roses

Today I took a minute to stop and smell "The Roses".  And what I really mean by that is I stopped to admire the iron rose sculpture done by Will Ryman's on Park Avenue, just one in a collection of 38.  These colossal flowers standing up to 25ft tall, with the odd ladybug and beetle afloat, was a reminder to take a minute to slow down my life just for a moment, in a city that is whooshing by, and breathe in the art and inspiration around me.  This city is filled with public art- graffiti, architecture, landscaping, murals, street music, sculptures, and beyond.  The hustle bustle of commuters at 9am, the flurrying of snowflakes in my face, the honking of cabs, and the spitting of bus engines, can undoubtedly be a major distraction but to appreciate the beauty and array of unique talent, despite the overstimulated mind in NYC, is a true accomplishment. 

~Paul Kasmin Gallery, in conjunction with New York City's Department of Parks & Recreation, and the Fund for the Park Avenue Sculpture Committee, announces Will Ryman's The Roses~

Christmas on Nantucket, 2010

The best way to describe an Old New England beach town in the off season is "charming".  We took a morning ferry over from Hyannis to Nantucket on the sunny, wintery Christmas morning.  Everyone was merry, and as we approached the harbor and could see that memorable view of the lighthouse on Brand Point before us, I let out a sigh of relief...we made it.  As we pulled in, there were seals sunbathing to the left, neatly aligned grey shingled with white trim buildings in front, and beach all around.  We dropped our stuff and then toured around the island - from the town's center, to Siasconset, to the Sankaty Lighthouse, to Pocomo, to Madaket, and back around.  We walked and snapped endless pictures on the beach. Almost all restaurants and shops are closed down for the season, and even the few that might be open are closed for Christmas day.  We met a few locals, and a very sweet family from Virginia doing the same thing as us.  It was a perfect afternoon.  That night, we walked down the cobble stone roads to dinner at Easy Street Restaurant.  Of course I had to have the Nantucket sea scallops. How can you have anything else in the prime of scallop season!  After dinner we cozied up next to the fire in the beautiful 3 story dollhouse on Centre Street and opened our Christmas gifts.  The charm and serenity may have taken a turn when we realized the 2010 Blizzard was on its way up the Noth East coast, but that is best saved for another blog.

Happy Holidays!

Dinner Parties in Manhattan

When I turned 25 I all of a sudden began to love hosting, as well as attending, dinner parties.  It must be one of those things that you have to just wait for it to happen, sort of like brussel sprouts and dirty martinis.  This week I am hosting a dinner party for 6 people in my 800 sq. foot 1 bedroom apartment.  The catch:  it is for family.  I have successfully hosted 2 dinner parties this year, but they were for my girlfriends who are happy as long as they have wine, a plate of food, and a friend sitting next to them.  Not to say that family is any less easy to please, but there is more at stake.  I cannot fail my first meal served in my own home to my dad and boyfriend's parents, all of who are great cooks.  This is a big deal! 
I decided to make a simple dish, eggplant parmesan, because it is pretty difficult to mess that up, yet always a crowd pleaser.  On the side I will make a romaine heart salad, and herb roasted sweet potatoes.
 I bought my ingredients from Eli's; I am hoping people will attribute the fresh full flavors to my kitchen skills.  Although the downside of living in the city is the small space to cook and host in, the wonderful part is the accessibility of fresh produce.  I went to Eli's, my choice for fresh ingredients in the neighborhood.  It may cost you a little extra, but you can find any top quality fruit, vegetable, bread, cheese, fish, meat, homemade pasta, coffee, nut, vinegar, dessert, snack, you name it, that you are looking for! 

Stay tuned for results...

The Hummingbird

Ok, so you may have heard a hummingbird can drink nectar from flowers, fly 34 miles per hour, flap its wings up to 90 times per second, fly backwards, hover, or stop in an instant.  But have you ever thought about their charm that goes beyond their physical beauty?  That is what has inspired me to today.  Hummingbirds can remind us that seemingly small ideas and concepts can possess great potential and power.  It has been said before that hummingbirds float free of time, carrying out hopes for peace, love, joy, and celebration.  And that the Hummingbird is actually the sun in disguise who is trying to win the love of a beautiful woman, the moon.  Others believe hummingbirds are fierce warriors, as they defend their territory from other hummingbirds.  To me they represent a blend of these virtues - bravery, grace, love, and happiness - and if you are ever to come across such a lovely creature let yourself be reminded of these meanings of life.

  



Hiking in New Zealand: The Routeburn Track

Part 3: Paris

As I mentioned earlier, we went out on a limb on our whim, and rebooked our flights to include Paris.  Traveling between countries in Europe is cheap and convenient,  http://www.ryanair.com/en.  We flew into Paris from Ibiza, and the contrast of the 2 countries was so strong it practically felt calculated.

Taken from Part III of journal:
"Where we stayed: http://www.st-christophers.co.uk/paris-hostels
Things we did: Louvre, the Hotel De Ville, the Versailles, lunch on the Seine, top of Montmarte for a panoramic view of the city, into the center of the city and through la Jardin, down Champs-Elysees, over to the Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame, Eifel tower, Deux Margo, and a bit of shopping.  The nightlife that Julien introduced us to was very different than Spain - not sure if it was his taste or Paris in general - but it was more sophisticated fun.  Paris feels grander and more spread out than Barcelona does, or perhaps my feet were just getting tired at that point.
The food was exceptional. NYC may be the foodie capital of the world, but a croissant at Boulangerie Duchêne or anywhere else in Paris is very different than a croissant in New York.  The flaky, buttery, pastry eaten any time of day, alone or dipped into espresso is not replicable in North America.  Strolling through St. Germain led me to the most a-mazing pistachio macaroon, and I quickly developed a brand new appreciation for that little treat, as well.  Follow that with a coffee at Deux Margo, and your day will feel complete.

Favorite memory:  Tour de Eiffel when it sparkes on the hour
Favorite Souvenir: Ladurée Body Oil