Last year during the Spring/Summer/Fall seasons, Wollman Rink turned into a rollerskating rink from its original ice skating. This year, during the warm months, Wollman Rink has become a Pickleball Haven! 14 courts of pickleballs on real pickleball surface for open play or full court reservations. So of course we had to go play (and we will be back!)
It is the same inside, but with lockers, rentals, and better option food (Roberta Pizza!)
Due to the many holidays last week (Passover and Good Friday), we had two days off from school. That meant, a lot of exploring in the city to occupy us. One adventure that the kids ALWAYS like is finding a new ramen restaurant. So after some research, we headed down to the East Village, to Ivan Ramen. There are many locations in Tokyo, but this one is the only one in NYC (and has been here since 2013). It was delicious, fast, easy, inexpensive, and fun to try. We will definitely go back again.
We sat outside in our own little courtyard which was perfect because it was Spring-ish, and nice to be in the fresh air.
Happy Holidays to everyone – Passover, Ramadan, Easter and/or Spring! There is definitely a change of season in the air — both the flowers and trees, and sunshine and /or rain. A time for rebirth and growth.
I love this.
OOPS. My kids had spring break for two weeks, and apparently I decided to not ever be on my computer, and not do the blog. Apologies! I brought the computer with me on all the travels, but WOOPS, didn’t write. So here I am. Back in NYC, kids back to school, and now back to the blog! Here is what I loved over Spring Break and am currently loving!
Best book I have read in a long time. Loved every minute and hated the fact that I read it so fast because then it meant it was over. HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
I know that it is almost Spring, but it has been freezing in NYC. So cold that I have been wearing my “wearable sleeping bag” and let me tell you — IT IS AMAZING AND WARM AND THE BEST. This wearable sleeping bag is from Selk’Bag and comes in every size for the whole family!
It is exactly what it sounds like — a sleeping bag that you wear. It is warm, comfortable, and absolutely perfect for outdoor hikes, sport watching, walking the dog, sitting by the fire – you name it.
And just like that….Spring Break is right around the corner. Here is what I am loving this month.
Located near the Brooklyn Bridge in Brooklyn, this new statue of BIG is set up on a hill and is fun, colorful, and different. As a huge fan of BIG, I love it. VERY MUCH.
As many people have, I too, have become totally enthralled and obsessed with the story of Flaco the Owl. For those of you who do not know Flaco, Flaco is an owl that escaped a month ago from Central Park Zoo. After eluding many different rescue attempts, Flaco now lives in Central Park freely and most likely will continue to live a free life away from the zoo. Flaco escaped the zoo on February 2nd, once its enclosure was vandalized. Flaco has lived in captivity at the zoo since 2010, and everyone has been worried if Flaco would be able to survive alone in the wild. But sure enough, Flaco is not only surviving, but thriving in the city. There was an incredible story in the NYTimes “Everyone Loves Flaco the Escaped Owl. But Why, Exactly?” and I highly suggest reading it — maybe you, too, will become interested in finding and spotting Flaco!
This past weekend, we went searching for Flaco — almost the whole day Sunday.
Natori is coming out with a kids line this Spring which is super exciting. There are many different dresses and each of them are so cute, fresh, and fun. In preparation for the line to drop, there was a photo shoot last week and the model was none other than Tusia (my 10 year old daughter).
Waiting for our turn to go to the shoot and get primped.
Since September 2022, once a month, I drive up to Newburgh , New York (upstate NY) to work on a Habitat for Humanity house. I became involved through a friend, as her mother and the mother’s church group started going in honor of her brother who passed away who once worked with Habitat for Humanity. It is an all day affair full of hard labor, but I absolutely love my time doing the work. It is incredibly rewarding and eye opening to all the work it takes to build a house.
My friend’s brother was named Johnny, and so many of the houses we build in honor of the brother are called ‘Johnny’s House’ based on the donations from the family in honor of Johnny.
This particular house, I have worked on and seen it through so many stages.
One day, I spent the entire time stapling some type of plastic (yes, obviously I have not learned any of the terminology) to the wall.
The town of Newburgh is fascinating because it is extremely poor with a lot of gang violence. But the town itself is beautiful set in a gorgeous setting on the Hudson River.
I am bad with all knives, and somehow managed to not cut myself here (not sure what I was doing).
In action. 99.9 percent of the volunteers are older, retired people. If you have any interest in volunteering, get involved and do so! It is so rewarding.
The church group — but you can volunteer on your own. I am not involved in the church but come when they do, because it is more fun to drive up with my friend, Katama, then to go solo.
One time, we built stairs!!!!
Me, Katama, and our hard hats.
Carrying rubble to a dump truck — workout of the day!
Stair building.
Completed stairs, and me being brave and walking up them.
FINITO.
Me and my work bags.
The cement truck — we had to transport the cement to the backyard — HARD workout.
The patio.
Us volunteers getting the cement to pour in the backyard.
Even more scary — me on this power chainsaw.
Not not scary.
Spackling all morning long….
You get so dirty and dusty — but it doesn’t matter. All worth it.
The rundown neighborhood.
If at all interested in volunteering, let me know, as I would love to go more often. It is extremely rewarding and you see your hard work in a finished product. Doing good FEELS good. I hope you have a great week!
On Wednesday this past week, a friend organized a hat making class in Brooklyn through Mad in Brooklyn. It was a full day of hat making, crafting, and learning all about hat making. It was an incredible experience and I loved every minute of making my hat. To top it off (get it)., I love the hat that I made. So it was a win win day and experience.
To make the experience even better there were tacos, tortilla chips, AND margaritas. That alone, made it fun.
The cookbook I use the most so far in 2023 has been “Smitten Kitchen” and the two recipes I cook on a weekly basis are the broccoli rabe with burrata and the charred salt and vinegar cabbage. I COULD EAT BUCKETS OF CABBAGE because this recipe is to die for. This is absolutely amazing and I highly suggest making it (even if it sounds weird) — I promise you will love it.
Ingredients:
I love celebrating creative and smart friends and any ideas or products that they come up with. Motif Cleanser falls into that category. Started by my beautiful friend, Devanshi, this cleanser is ONE OF A KIND and I cannot rave enough about it.
Devanshi happens to be one of the most beautiful (and kind) people I have ever met. I had the privilege of attending her wedding in India 5 years ago — and it was one of the most memorable and incredible experiences of my life. Look at how beautiful Devanshi is — super model worthy.
Ever since I started needlepointing, I have been a bad reader. Instead of spending the time reading, I am crafting…but I want to change that and learn how to balance that more. Here is my wish list for books to read this month (or year)
1. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
Here we are, already a week plus a couple in the second month of the year. How does time fly by so quickly? Before you know it, it will be spring break and then school is over and then POOF summer. Here is what I am currently loving this month.
1. NY Times article: Future Cringe
One of my favorite articles in 2023 — a must read if you haven’t seen it already!
It was VERY, VERY, VERY cold over the weekend in NYC. It was hard to do much of anything because of the frigid air. Here is what I suggest doing if you are in NYC when it is very cold outside.
I went the other weekend to celebrate the Chinese New Year and see a special dance performance. It was fun to be in the museum (the actual performance was so so), but I love how beautiful the structure of the Met is and how you can get lost in it for days.
In my constant search for the best undies (always through Natori), I have found one of my new favorites: Beyond Brief. Yes, my everyday go to undies will always and forever be the Feathers undies, but it is always good to switch it up, too. And I am loving these Beyond Briefs. Very similar style (aka not a thong) but different. Same same but different.
Look at the cute tush.
I posted this breakfast hack several years ago, but it is so good that I think it is important I tell you AGAIN just in case you missed it the first time. TWO ingredient pancakes. They are beyond easy and so delicious that everyone in the family will like. The two ingredients: banana and egg. Et voila, 2 ingredient pancakes.
You take 1 banana and 2 eggs (or 1/2 banana and 1 egg) and smash it together. yes, if you use a blender, it is smoother and nicer (but that also means more of a mess to clean up). So I am A OK with clumps, and just smash it and mix together in one bowl.
A new bakery in NYC has arrived and it is absolutely DELICIOUS. Thanks to a dear friend of Ken’s from boarding school, Newmie, she always sends me lists of everything new and cool that she loves in the city. And last week, she wrote to me that this new bakery, Michaeli Bakery, had opened up. Sure enough, after research, she was right — it was straight up my alley. It is an Israeli bakery, started by the first baker that was brought to NYC to open Breads Bakery. It specailizes in Jewish baked goods — ie burekas, rugalach, babka, challah, and more. It also has TWO locations — one on the UES (401 East 90th Street) and one on the LES (115A Division Street).
I decided to try four different cookies — and HOLY SMOKES they are amazing. Better than Levain, better than crumbl, they are truly the perfect size, density, sweetness and flavor.
Is this month over????? Always SOOOOOOO long. Luckily it has not been THAT cold in NYC this past month. I mean, definitely hat and jacket weather, but not my big BIG coat. Here is what I am currently loving.
1. Feel Better Live More Podcast
Super insightful and love all of his shows. A must listen to.
My absolute favorite restaurant in the United States is now in NYC! Gjelina is an LA based restaurant and by far the best dining experience I have ever encountered — scrumptious food, great service, easy and laid back vibe — all perfection. When I read that it opened up in NYC for breakfast and lunch two weeks ago, I knew that I needed to go. And sure enough, I went not once but twice this past weekend. It is SOOOOOO good. Everything. The date cake is my absolute favorite, and not yet on the NY menu, but I still love it regardless.
Photo taken by the NYTimes. It is a two story restaurant, with a waiting room in the front, as no reservations are accepted.
HOLY SMOKES I AM IN LOVE WITH MY NEW SKI MITTENS. They are truly perfection — colorful, artistic, and most importantly so warm and cozy. These mittens, made by Astis, are beautiful and designed especially for skiing. Each individual pair is created using natural materials from the highest quality suede leather. They are lined with dry-wicking Polartec Thermal to keep your hands dry, and each mitten is hand stitched in the USA.
Look at them! Aren’t they beautiful? I am obsessed. I wore them everyday in Sunriver over Christmas Break, and I will ski with them for years.
January is always the longest month. It feels like February is right around the corner, but it actually isn’t — it still is weeks away! Here is what I am loving this month!
1. Anything Pendleton-pattern-esque
I love everything Pendleton. I’ve had the blue coat since Cruzzie was in my belly (13 years ago) and it is a coat that I imagine I will have as long as I am alive. And I keep adding to my collection…now the dog has one (if only she liked it — she hates clothes).
I came across the cookbook Smitten Kitchen Keepers over the holidays, and since then, I have made dozens of recipes. It is HANDS DOWN my favorite cookbook. Everything I have made has been absolutely delicious (and there have been many repeats) and literally everything in the cookbook, I want to try and eat. So if you want to be inspired in the kitchen, get this cookbook! I AM IN LOVE.
I love absolutely everything about this cookbook — the recipes (most importantly), the photos, the writing, all great.
In the past month, we have been going to Brooklyn for brunch. There is something and fun and different to get in our car, drive to a different borough, and eat where we are not going to know a single person. Recently, we ended up at Sunday in Brooklyn, on a SUNDAY in BROOKLYN (very meta). It was after I researched where “the best pancakes are served in NYC,” and this was at the top of every list I came across.
It takes reservations, but on the Sunday we went, there were not any available spots, so we walked in, and put our name on the waitlist and walked around Domino Park — which had beautiful views of Manhattan. Windy and cold, but still beautiful and picturesque.
Last month to celebrate the end of school, I took Cruzzie and his friends to a graffiti workshop in Brooklyn. I thought it would be a fun and unique outing — something different — and sure enough it was. We were all a little skeptical (the teacher was late and the building that the class was in was a little unusual), that said, it was so fun and the boys had a great time and learned so much. I highly recommend — but if you do it, just know that there might be a couple kinks but it will all work out.
A quick background on the history of graffiti and then a lesson on how to do it.
