New York

Beat the Bomb

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Beat the Bomb – an immersive group experience! I have heard amazing reports about this interactive activity, which is a mixture of an escape room and a video game, so I signed up and took some kids to have some fun. Absolutely everyone had a blast and it was the perfect rainy indoor day activity. Located in DUMBO in Brooklyn, Beat the Bomb is a privately owned company that started five years ago. It was first built for adults, for group bonding activities and fun, but after the pandemic, they realized that kids were wizards at ipads. So now, it is 50% adults, and 50% kids.

 

When you get to the space, you have to put on a hazmat suit. Blurry photo, but gives you an idea of what the suit looks like.

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Spring 2022 To Do Wish List

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Although we are in already a week in to May, NYC has not been very warm or Spring like….better weather to come, here is what I am hoping to do this Spring (both in the city and in general).

 

1. Drive In Movie Theater in Brooklyn

 

I am dying to try out this Brooklyn Drive In Movie Theater where you not only watch the movie, but you have beautiful views of the city. Right now they are showing Clueless.

 

2. Visit The Whitney Biennial

 

I must go! I must go! I must!

 

3. Overall Spring Cleaning

 

I love Spring Cleaning – a fresh start to clean and purge and tidy everything.

 

4. See The Basquiat Exhibit

 

I love Basquiat and cannot wait to see this special exhibit.

 

5. Finish my Dr. Dre Needlepoint

 

Dr. Dre needlepoint — loving this creation but ready to move on to something new!

 

6. Enjoy a Show At The Forest Hills Stadium

 

Live music!

 

7. Devour Pizza

 

A newly opened Pizza restaurant in the Lower East Side, yes please!

 

8. Play MiniGolf in Williamsburg

 

A great family activity — mini golf in Brooklyn! It reopens May 16th!

 

9. Glamp on Governors Island

 

One of my favorite adventures was glamping on Governors Island — different, unique, picturesque, and fun. A must do at least once in your life!

 

10. Roam on Pier 57 Rooftop

 

A new rooftop park to explore — sign me up!

 

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What are you looking forward to doing, exploring, engaging in this Spring? Do share!

 

Anika Yael Natori, aka, The Josie Girl

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Glamping on Governors Island

Josie Girl 1 Comment

In celebration of my 5th grade son’s last day of school, we went to Governors Island with some of his besties and their moms. Governors Island has always been one of my favorite places — an easy afternoon IN the city, but OUT of the city. It is an 172 acre island in the heart of New York Harbor, located only 800 yards from Lower Manhattan. In recent years, we have visited dozens of times but have only been there for a couple of hours each time. Basically, there is not much to do but walk, scoot, look, eat, and hang out (but what else do you really need?) This time around, I thought ahead and booked us for an overnight stay, glamping at Collective Retreats.

 

Private boat to Collective Retreats (The company / hotel where we glamped). The complimentary water taxi runs from 430 pm to 10 pm, which is crucial since the public ferry stops service at 6 pm. The water taxi only holds up to 6 people, so it was just us on the ride. They made it a scenic ride and took us to the Statue of Liberty and other spectacular views of the city.

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Mark’s Off Madison

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If you know me well, you know that Fred’s at Barney’s was my go-to restaurant for 11 plus years. It is where we had every Sunday dinner, multiple meals throughout the week, and even many special occasions such as Marathon parties, birthday parties, and special moments. It was our kitchen. We knew the entire wait staff and loved everything about it — it felt like home. So we were extremely sad when Barney’s shut down PRE Covid. It felt like we lost a part of our family and didn’t know what other restaurants to go to. Sure enough, a month later, the music died, and all restaurants were shut down to Covid…..but here we are, back in NYC, restaurants are reopened (currently only outdoor dining) and the chef from Fred’s, opened up his own restaurant “Mark’s Off Madison.” It is located downtown on 26th street and Madison, with Mark as the chef, and many of the same wait staff as at Fred’s. It felt like going home — we were so happy to see so many of the same waiters and think often of the others that we don’t know their whereabouts (Lorraine, Aggie, Jose, Gian Franco, and so many more — we miss you and hope you are all safe and healthy). Fred’s was a special place to us and so going to Mark’s Off Madison felt special, too.

 

It is NOT warm. Right now, in NYC, there is only outdoor dining, but that didn’t stop us from trying and seeing our old friends.

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March To Do List

Josie Girl 2 Comments

I am usually bad at fulfilling any of my “to-do” lists or goals for the certain season, but for whatever reason, I accomplaished a lot of the goals I set out for myself in February and March.  So I give myself a pat on the back and now want to set some new ones as I head into the third month of the year. Obviously top goal: not get corona virus or get quarantined somewhere…..but here are a couple of my less important goals / to do list for the next several weeks.

 

1. See Matthew Broderick and SJP in Plaza Suite

 

How can I miss this? Must get tickets soooooon — anyone want to come?

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The Vessel at Hudson Yards

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Last weekend, we played tourists in our own city, and decided to visit “The Vessel” at Hudson Yards. After many years of construction and 200 million dollars, this new landmark and public structure opened up last week. Located outside Hudson Yards — a development of retail stores, office space, apartments — this structure is quite the site. It looks like a pineapple, or a honeycomb, and is the newest Instagram hotspot for all.

 

Pineapple. Shining and shimmering in its brand new splendor.

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My Go-To Sandwich

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Every week, I find myself at the counter of Epicerie Bouloud to pick up my favorite sandwich in the world. Aside from cucumbers and granola (my other go-to foods), I could eat this sandwich EVERY MEAL OF EVERY DAY and be happy as a clam. Not only does it remind me of Paris, but it satisfies all my taste buds — butter, ham, cheese, bread — THANK YOU, GOD.

 

BIG! You can split this….or you can eat it all for yourself! (Like I do!)

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Domino Park – Tacocina

Josie Girl 3 Comments

Yesterday, we went on a little adventure to Domino Park in Williamsburg (in Brooklyn). This new park opened in June and was created in the ruins of the Domino Sugar Factory. Designed by the same firm as The High Line (James Corner Field Operations), this water front six acre green space is a terrific new addition to the city. Although we froze our bottoms off, it was great fun to run around, breathe fresh air, and look at the views of our incredibly beautiful city. I can’t wait to come back on a sunny Spring Day (which will not happen for half a year….)

 

These cranes previously occupied the site remain, and have been painted in the park’s signature turquoise.

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Sunny with an A

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As I get older, my network of awesome and talented women keeps expanding (one of the many upsides of getting older).  One of my newest mom friends, Sana, happens to be nice, smart, sweet, inclusive, open, interesting, beautiful, and inspiring. And not only is Sana a great person, but she is also the founder of kid’s pajama company, Sunny with an A.  I recently bought a pair for Tusia, and she literally will not take them off — they are amazingly soft, perfectly thought out, and super colorful. Take a look at the interview below, and thank you, Sana! (And mom, it may be time to start doing kids!)

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Sunny, indeed.

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More / Shape Women’s Half Marathon

Josie Girl 5 Comments

This past weekend, I laced up my running shoes and ran my first half marathon in two years. Yes, I have run a lot of marathons since 2014, but a half marathon is totally different….and it hasn’t helped that I’ve been nursing an injury for the last 6 months (GROAN). But I did it. And in a fast time for me! And it was all part of a great event celebrating women. Enjoy the pics!

 

Post race, the little girl deserves the medal.

Post race, the little girl deserves the medal.

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Brunch at Sadelle’s

Josie Girl 4 Comments

One of our favorite Sunday family activities is to go downtown for early family brunch — no traffic, easy parking, and it makes us feel young, hip, and in the know (wishful thinking).  Even with a 6 and 3 year old in tow -> #HipstersEatBrunchAt9. Yesterday, we drove down to Soho to Sadelle’s, a new hip restaurant/Jewish deli run by Major Food Group (the people behind Dirty French, Carbonne and Parm) and ate ourselves silly. Highly recommend — the food, experience, service, ambiance — 5 stars from this family!

 

Beautiful flowers sprinkled throughout the room. At night, there are lots of candles (says a good friend of mine).

Beautiful flowers sprinkled throughout the room. At night, there are lots of candles (says a good friend of mine).

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NYC Sunday Brunch: The Standard Grill

Josie Girl 3 Comments

Although it currently feels like Spring in New York, Christmastime is in the air!; bells, fir trees, red, green, tourists,  presents, ribbons, gingerbread, candy canes. We had a terrific Sunday morning last weekend, and I highly recommend recreating it for some family fun.

 

Anything with these two is fun and festive....except when they are poking each other, in each other's faces, whining, complaining, crying, and hitting. #TheJoy

Anything with these two is fun and festive….except when they are poking each other’s faces, whining, complaining, crying, and hitting. #TheJoy

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Whole Foods Brooklyn

Josie Girl 12 Comments

I have an obsession with grocery stores. I love maneuvering through big crowds, window shopping, watching them prepare foods, you name it. Call me a wacko, but I love it. And so does, Ali Berlin, Contributing Editor of the blog (obviously one reason we are friends is because we share interests in grocery stores.) Thanks, Ali, for spiriting this post. AMAZING!

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Dec 17, 2013 was a monumental day in Brooklyn because the first ever Whole Foods market opened in Gowanus, on the corner of 3rd and 3rd.  It’s been ten years in the making and people are overjoyed that it finally happened.

brick by brick

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Four & Twenty Blackbirds

Josie Girl 8 Comments

Even with Thanksgiving behind us, there is no such thing as TOO much pie! Especially pie from Four & Twenty Blackbirds. Located in the Gowanus section of Brooklyn (439 3rd Avenue), this pie shop was founded in 2010 by sisters and pie makers Melissa and Emily Elsen. And my oh my, do they know how to bake! So scrumptious and delicious. So many choices to choose form.

outside

Outside the pie shop with old school gothic lettering.

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Mu Mu Muesli

Josie Girl 7 Comments

As a sucker for all granola, I am also obsessed with muesli. Although very similar, they are not the same thing. Both granola and muesli contain oats, fruits and nuts, but muesli is raw, whereas granola is baked. People enjoy muesli like they do granola (served with milk, sprinkled over yogurt, drowned in kefir) or they soak it overnight (in milk or yogurt) to create a cool, porridge-like consistency. Both of my parents (foreign born) eat muesli almost every morning (except for Saturdays when Papa Proskurowski makes his famous omelet) so I have been around different forms of muesli all my life. And Mu Mu Muesli, my friends, is one of the best. The best.

 

mu mu

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Candy Store

Josie Girl 9 Comments

I am a health freak as I love my gym, nature, fresh air, chia seeds, coconut, and vegan concoctions. And yet, I am a sucker for candy, too. I KNOW, right? Hard to believe, but I love it. I hoard Halloween candy all year because I love the shiny wrappers and the delicious, chocolatey, oh-so-sweet treats inside. Drooling now. And it is so cliche, but a candy store to me, is well, like one big candy store. I can’t just look, and I want to taste everything — it all looks delicious and I NEED. EVERYTHING. THEN. AND. NOW. SHAKE. SHAKE. CONVULSIONS.

Picturesque.

Picturesque Sockerbit in the West Village of NYC.

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NYC Fall 2013 To Do List

Josie Girl 4 Comments

Back into the swing of things….so here is my current Top 10 NYC Fall to-do-list! So many different options and adventures to experience this fall. Check it out.

Tata and Toosh -- although it is not FULL ON FALL, the leaves *are* starting to fall, and before you know it, all the leaves will be off the trees....

Tata and Toosh — although it is not FULL ON FALL, the leaves *are* starting to fall, and before you know it, all the leaves will be off the trees….

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Pok Pok

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Pok Pok

Ken and I recently took a day trip to Portland for some shopping and dining. We were fortunate to have the grandparents to babysit, so we could wander around the city like we did pre-kids. It was heavenly. And our visit to Pok Pok, was one of the highlights. Pok Pok has been in all the food magazines and blogs, thanks to their Portland flagship and their NYC opening last year. Talk of the town! We love venturing to new, hip restaurants in New York, but the restaurant has so much buzz (and no reservations) that it is a little difficult to plan. So Portland Pok Pok was the perfect place (how many sea shells at the sea shore). Continue Reading →

John Derian

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Located in the heart of the East Village, the John Derian Dry Good store is a pot of gold. The moment you walk in, you feel pure happiness, comforted by the luxurious, beautiful, colorful, and happy home goods. The cozy home accessories shop is filled from head to toe with handmade beautiful knicknacks.  You will want to buy everything in the store, even if you don’t have pans for your new loot. I wish that the store was my home.

Screen Shot 2013-05-08 at 8.09.57 PM

 

John Derian decoupage plates in our dining room

John Derian decoupage plates in our dining room

John Derian Company was started in 1989 by John Derian himself. He makes beautiful decoupage plates, paperweights, platters, bowls, trays, dishes, lamps, coasters, and much much more. His whole collection is handmade in his studio by artisans. He also sells linens, stationary, plates, lighting, and furniture from an assortment of collections (prints by Hugo Guinness, vintage Pakistani quilts, Moroccan lanterns and leather poufs, for example).

Outside.

Outside. In love already??

Window

Window with gold sparkle.

Paper weights.

Paper weights. Amazing presents.

Rustic plates

Rustic French plates.

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Family Photographer

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First things first, best of luck with everyone preparing for Hurricane Sandy.  Hopefully this won’t be too bad, but the news  is definitely doing a good job of scaring the life out of me and everyone else.  My initial disaster pans were to go to the gym twice today, get a mani/pedi, and make cornbread, but it is becoming more clear that we could be in for some serious conditions.  Good luck, everyone.  Separately, we were supposed to announce the winner of last Monday’s giveaway today, but the Natori offices are closed, so we will need to wait until everything reopens.  Sorry about that!

On to today’s post. As soon as I had a child of my own, I became obsessed with finding the right family photographer. I searched for someone whose aesthetic was clear, simple, modern, original, and clean. Davina to the rescue! Since we first met her in September 2011, we have hired her time and time again to take photos of the family. We have two walls dedicated to her portraits. I love everything about Davina; her quality work, her easy and laid back demeanor, her frames, and of course, the photographs themselves.

photo wall

One of our walls in the hallway. Various sizes and pictures of the family pre-Zoe.

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Flavored Kale Chips

Josie Girl 12 Comments

Way back when, when the blog was brand new (almost a year ago!), I wrote about my obsession with making Kale Chips. So healthy, so easy, so delicious. I thought my homemade kale chips were the best snack in the world. And although they are great, I came across New York Naturals Kale Chips, sold at my local Whole Foods, and there is simply no comparison.

Locally made, these are sold at more than 200 stores in New York and on the East Coast. But for my West Coast friends, they are even sold online.  I first tried these at Whole Foods, then went online and got 4 boxes, and now, I just placed an order for 10 more. I can’t live without them! To buy go here.

flavors

Options: Bombay Ranch, Salt and vinegar, Spicy miso, and Vegan cheese. My personal favorite is the Sea Salt and Vinegar. Tangy, salty, and oh so good.

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NYC Fall To Do Activity List

Josie Girl 14 Comments

Summer is almost over, which means back to New York.  I am so sad to leave behind the outdoors, open air, greenery, family, and lack of schedule in Oregon….And yet, there are many things that I am looking forward to upon my return (besides, obviously, being fully reunited with my husband!)

* Drink champagne on the Roof garden at the Met overlooking Central Park

met rooftop

Hours: Through late fall, weather permitting: Friday and Saturday: 10:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.; Martini Bar: 5:30–8:00 p.m.; Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: 10:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; Closed Mondays

Location: 83rd and 5th Ave, Fifth floor via the elevator in the European Sculpture and Decorative Arts galleries

Details: Self-service, light fare and cocktails in an informal, outdoor setting with panoramic views of Manhattan. Children are welcome.

* Hotdogs and popcorn at a Brooklyn Cyclones Game

cyclones

popcorn

Location:  MCU Park, 1904 Surf Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11224 (Coney Island)

* Indulge in Italian food at L&B Spumoni Garden

pizza

Hours: 11 am to Midnight, daily.

Location: 2725 86th Street, Brooklyn, NY, 11223 (Bensonhurst)

Details: Italian feast!

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The Good Fork

Josie Girl 6 Comments

I love to pretend that I live in suburbia (instead of in the middle of a concrete jungle island). As a result, Ken and I tend to drive more than the average Manhattanites (we are very lucky to have access to a car — life changer, I must say). It is a fun activity to hop into the car, drive downtown to dinner, explore areas that are hard to get to, and explore other boroughs. One of our absolute favorite field trips is to Red Hook (a remote area in Brooklyn on the water — very warehouse-esque, hip, and modern) and eat at an excellent restaurant called The Good Fork. The Good Fork is owned and operated by a couple who live close by to the restaurant with their family. The husband manages the restaurant and the wife is the head chef. Not only is the food memorable and delicious, but the service is superb, the ambiance low key and cozy, and the overall atmosphere is lovely, familiar, neighborhood-esque and chill. Nothing better than a drive over the Brooklyn Bridge to enjoy an excellent meal in an intimate setting.

drive

The drive. Depending on traffic we either go over the Brooklyn Bridge or through the Battery Tunnel (toll required).
door

The door leading to the restaurant. The Good Fork is located in a brick house.

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