New York

January 31, 2011 In New York, Photos

sauced in saratoga

Hey, you’ve got to do something to keep yourself warm in that crazy winter weather.

Looks like I missed a Chowderfest by about a week. This small Upstate, NY town is the perfectly quaint kind. You know- the kind you see in brochures? I can still hear the commercial sound bites from when I was growing up: “Saratoga; The August Place To Be.” Indeed it is. Ahhh, those gorgeous houses and all that horse racing. This recent visit didn’t have me too excited to walk around long in the frigid temps, although I did enjoy my time there. It’s always fun daydreaming of my summers in the Northeast, wandering the charm of all those picturesque towns like this one.

Let me know when the green grass, sunshine and warm temperatures are back Saratoga. I’d be more than happy to come back and get sauced with you!

January 13, 2011 In New York, Photos

my corn is famous!

Ok, so that sounds kind of gross. Maybe I should say my lunch is famous.

I was contacted by NY Schmap a while ago about this photo I took at at Cafe’ Habana in Soho. I wrote about my incredible lunch there back in July here. Of course you can use my photo I told them. Look what I just got notification of. Yep- that’s my photo!

Don’t miss out on Cafe’ Habana next time you’re in NYC. You will be one happy camper if you eat there. Especially if you have this to die for corn appetizer. I love yummy food and I really love that my yummy food photos can be seen by others. Thanks Schmap!

July 24, 2010 In New York, People, Photos

meet gary

Gary is my friends dad. He is one of the kindest, most genuine, insightful and accepting people I have ever known. He and his lovely and equally wonderful wife Jeanne, have been loving, accepting and welcoming me into their home for the past 13 years every summer as if I were their own child. My cottage time is so sacred and has always been the favorite few days of my summers.

After a dinner on the patio overlooking the gorgeous lake the other night, Gary asked me if I wanted to go fishing with him. He hadn’t caught anything worth keeping all summer until that point and thought I might be able to bring him some luck, so off we went. He caught a tiny fish pretty quickly but nothing after that. We joked about a hex on the boat or something as there have always been trout a plenty in years past. Fish or not, it was worth going out as the company was great as always and I even got to drive the boat home. Here’s a photo of Fisherman Gary. (By the way since our outing the other night He’s broken the hex and reeled in a 6-pounder!):

I also snapped this photo of the shore room as we were speeding away in the boat the other night. This was an addition to the cottage a couple of years ago for Gary’s 70th birthday. I get to sleep there when I visit now. One word to describe waking up in that room? Heaven.

There are many reasons I love coming to the lake, but the biggest is the time I get with my friend Patrick and his incredible parents. Over the years I have learned so much from them even though they probably would never know they were teaching. I’ve learned about acceptance, love, joy and being grateful. I’ve been inspired to be more open and give more of myself. This family exudes light, life and love more than I could ever describe. Their overall positive energy is a force to be reckoned with and they have that magnetic way that just makes you want to be around them as much as possible. They are the purest beings and a few of my absolute favorite ones on the planet. Each summer as I pull up the long steep road away from them, I feel completely full and peaceful.

As my time at the lake comes to an end now, I already dream of boat rides, quiet dock time, dinners on the patio, listening to the lapping of the water, the lessons, and all the true conversation over the sunset shores with this family. Thank you Patrick, Jeanne and Gary for every moment of our time together and every ounce of love you continue to give me and everyone around you.

July 23, 2010 In New York, Photos

could you, would you anywhere?

(I have officially passed 600 posts. YIPPEE!!)

Last week thanks to a friend who took me, I was at the Hotel Ganzevoort sipping cosmos among the hot, trendy crowd with spectacular views of the city as I sported a sassy black dress and sky high heels.

Last night thanks to a different friend who took me, I was at the Grassroots Festival sipping a Heineken, among the hippie, free-lovin’ crowd with spectacular views of people dancing in fields as I sported a flowy dress with flip flops.

(I had some fun hamming it up):

I’m bummed I didn’t get any photos of RG and I at Hotel Gansevoort last week, but here’s Patrick and I last night goofing off at the festival between bands, on our way to shake it to Arrested Development:

Thanks guys! Both were so fun, fun, fun. From pish-posh with bathroom attendants to dirt fields with porta potties.

I love life’s potpourri.

July 21, 2010 In New York, Photos

each summer i love you more

View from after dinner on the porch last night:

…and from my bed waking up this morning:

If you’ve never been to Upstate, NY/Finger Lakes area, think about this place for your next family summer vaca. 13 years of coming every summer and it continues to be my favorite place on the planet. I cherish my every minute here each summer and often wonder why this area is not completely overloaded with people. It’s like the best kept secret in the country for lake time…

July 19, 2010 In De-lish, New York, Photos

roadside america

Only on a Northeast late summer afternoon can you get your soft serve cone covered with something called Krunch Kote…

…slurp it up as you drive by one of the hundreds of family farms in all the green…

…and then stop by the local Moose Lodge for a taco when you get hungry again…

The simple life, the good life. Gotta love it.

July 18, 2010 In Cool companies, De-lish, New York, Photos

love handles in place of mug handles

This is the Max Brenner hug mug full of liquid chocolate:

This is me loving life drinking it:

Now if I had a picture of me in a chocolate coma on the couch I’d send that…

Dear Max~

You were so worth the wait. I’m coming back for more soon!

July 18, 2010 In De-lish, New York

don’t tempt me

I’ve been in NY since Wednesday. After about 30 minutes in town, I started thinking I’d absolutely love to live here. This has blindsided me. I was never that girl that wanted to move to the big city. Like most things, I’ve never been opposed to trying whatever or moving wherever, but there has never been that burning desire.

Now I am feeling the burn.

The last thing I would have ever expected on my journey to 50th state Alaska; The Last Frontier of all places, is that I’d roll into NY for some quick fun, food, touring and seeing friends, that I’d get smacked in the face with a screaming “Welcome home Diane!”- from the universe. What does this mean? I’m not sure but I do know that I LOVE:
1.) A place that you could ride a donkey down the street and no one would give a damn. 2.) Food glorious food. 3.) The energy here that’s impossible to find anywhere else. 4.) A fashion that is unmatched. 5.) It’s like free 24/7 dinner and a movie just by walking down the street. 6.) Never a dull moment. 7.) The survival of the fittest; Keep your ass moving and gettin’ smarter, faster, better, or you will be run over. Peace out lazy-asses! 8.) The general lack of complacency. 9.) The fact that I can walk. EVERYwhere here. 10.) The never ending supply of friends and family who’d visit because everyone comes to NY. And so much more.

Of course there are 1,001 reasons it’d be crazy to try to make it in this city. If I were scared of/opposed to; Rats like the one who ran down the stairs as we waited for the train the other day, the fairly regular smell of pee in various places, the completely insane people that roam the streets, the roach infested apartment I could afford with 64 roommates, and traffic, traffic, traffic- nah- I’d be fine. I’m twisted enough to actually find those things charming. The single thing that appeals to me even with the 1,001 reasons to NOT to try to live in NY is the fact that not a single person could give a flip about you. (In a good way.) People generally don’t care about what you’re doing. It’s Ok if you talk to yourself while walking down the street. You can sing out loud and pick your nose in public and no one turns a head. Just twirl around in the middle of the sidewalk- everyone will walk around you and keep on their way. Sport your purple hair with teal fringed jorts and leopard print loafers or some other form of a schizophrenic outfit and blend right in. You just do what you do and no one bothers you or judges you. It’s a giant free for all and I find that more comforting than anything.

I leave in the morning to head upstate to the green. I’ll likely think and discuss the same when I’m there and 50 other places; wouldn’t it be great to live here. For now though, I sit alone in Union Square overlooking the park and Empire State Building, about to go nosh on some serious Max Brenner chocolate with a friend I haven’t seen in 12 years, feeling happy as a clam and daydream of this being home.

Stay tuned for food posts coming. Off the charts yummy these past 4 days. There’s that bonus of a walking city again; I can stuff my face for several days in a row and still feel like I’m in the best shape of my life.

I LOOOOOVE NEW YORK!

July 15, 2010 In De-lish, New York, Photos

food, glorious food

From my wonderful stay in Mendham, NJ on Tuesday I headed into the one and only New York, New York.

I’ve been to NYC at least 15 times before but yesterday was easily one of the best days I have ever spent here. Maybe it was good company, amazing food, the general energy of the city, the fashion, the people- I think a combination of it all. I absolutely love love love the big city. I’ve already been thinking about how I can either get about 5 roommates or rob a bank so I could afford to live here for a while.

I arrived at my friends place, surprisingly easy and with little traffic to maneuver, put my car in a lot so I wouldn’t have to worry about it for few days and we headed off to lunch. He took me to this amazing little Cuban joint Cafe’ Habana on Prince St. The place was packed as I learned it always stays. There were good looking people all around to watch which made our wait time pass very quickly. When the waitress called us in to our table I knew that this was going to be one of those places that every last thing on the menu would be delicious. Turns out it was.

I had to order the straight Cuban sandwich just because. My friend ordered a quesadilla with chorizo, avocado, mozzarella and a bunch of other goodness and this appetizer for us:

Holy moses.

This is grilled corn slathered with butter, cheese, lime and chili powder. I said wow several times as we both scarfed the corn down and we laughed that wow really summed up the taste perfectly. Add a cold beer, my Cuban sandwich, fantastic friendly service from the staff and oh what an excellent first meal in the city as my welcome wagon.

We left Cafe’ Habana stuffed and happy and toured around Soho. We wandered the streets for a while until it started pouring. We sprinted drenched into the Soho Grand to get out of the rain and have an afternoon cocktail. What a gorgeous spot. It’s so fun to have a glass of wine on a weekday afternoon.

Back to the apartment we headed for some chill time, but I got a burst of energy and decided to go for a run. For some reason I sprinted like there was no tomorrow. It’s oddly fun to have to jump around and play frogger to maneuver the streets of NY. In a short 30 minutes out I almost got hit by a few cars, I saw old men playing dominos in the park, I watched a guy pick a nearly empty Snapple bottle off the ground, examine it carefully then drink the last sip, and spotted more jorts than I ever dreamed would be fashionable again. Bored falls out of the dictionary in this town.

After a shower and change we headed off to The Spotted Pig for dinner. We waited again as to be expected for a well-known delicious food spot. I have to say I’d prefer waiting to sitting right down any night for dinner. To me it’s like dinner and a movie all in one. Have a drink, talk to some strangers, watch what’s coming out of the kitchen the most to help your decision on what to order and avoid that fast food eat and get the hell out feel that happens all too often when you go out. My dinner was off the charts ridiculous. (It was a suggestion by the waitress. I’m a big fan of asking server opinion and always choosing what they suggest. Especially if the suggestion is not the most expensive thing on the menu, then you know you can trust them.) It was one of the best meals I’ve ever had. I honestly cannot remember when I ate something that perfectly flavored and prepared.

I went to bed so stuffed and happy last night it’s as if I were in heaven falling asleep. With hundreds of more off charts ridiculous spots to eat in this city, I’m wondering how I could make it possible to stuff my face for a living.