city life!

how was your winter?

the sun is high in the sky today. while out walking i noticed how much we all need a bit of sunshine and warm weather. today is beautiful! people are out and about smiling and enjoying the day. it could just be me, but i sense a bit of relief in the air. i'm thinking that we've been closed indoors and closed in on ourselves this past winter and it just feels good to sit in the sun. to be outside, maybe out of our heads, away from our jobs and responsibilities for a moment is refreshing.

april can be tricky, weather wise. it could rain at any moment. but rumour has it that the sunshine and warmth should be with us for a minute and it just looks like we all need it.

there is a relief from the cold wintry snowy days that are slowly becoming the recent past.

today i'll pack a 'little lunch' and have a picnic in central park.

i hope you and yours are well...

some pretty things...

flowers galore, can you imagine? Dali dined here often and has been quoted as saying that the owners of this restaurant on the east side of manhattan 'throw money out the window and it comes back to them through the door.' from what i read it is a space of beauty and fine french cuisine. i always like to peak now and then into the rooms of 'the haves,' just to see what they are up to. and this space looks divine. the owner is at new york's flower market every morning at 6.30 in order to purchase an abundance of flowers to adorn the family owned restaurant.

the story of how it actually began is a sentimental one. the father, as a young man worked on cruise ships as a part of the service staff in the restaurants. as he was a way from home often working, so many years ago, his wife leased a space and wrote to her husband asking for a name of the restaurant, and as a hint that he had to come home to create it. all was a complete surprise for him. but the wife simply wanted to figure out a way to have her husband home more often and near her. the son now owns and runs the restaurant. just thought it was a nice story for a pretty space that seems to be in the business of food (which i adore), beauty and quite possibly love, which inspired it all.

while on the subject of pretty things...

'when i was a young perfumer...'

not everyone can say this about themselves. nooooo, i'm not a perfumer, but there is something eccentric about it. the idea that perfumers actually exist, whose job it is to create scents. sweet! i read an article about 'la osmothèque,' a museum of perfume in france. the writer wrote...'writing formulas as composers compose symphonies,' while referring to one who creates new perfume scents. it seems as if the museum is a space to discover and rediscover scents that have seemingly disappeared. why is this interesting? i suppose it's not very, i just think that it is fascinating that there is a space dedicated to scents. it is thought of as an uber-chic intellectual sephora. a playground of perfumes, if you are into that kind of thing. i am, sometimes. not often, but sometimes...

i have a perfume that i like very much. i don't wear it often. i guess somehow subconsciously i think to save it for special occasions. it's pretty and soft. but i think the better part of me knows that every day is a special occasion. so i'm thinking i should sprinkle some on a little more often. i love it when i'm out and about and someone walks by me and they just smell divine. just a nice soft scent that inspires. i could be that girl...

two.dos.deux...

we are in the midst of our 2nd snow fall. the snow flakes began to fall late last night, and now the city is a winter wonderland. bliss!

orange good mornings

upon awakening most mornings, i lay in bed and listen a bit, to my heart, the sounds outside, and give thanks for a new day.

this morning, with all the snow that has fallen, i can hear the shoveling of snow out doors. i get up and have a look out the window. there's a man in a bright orange sweater cap clearing the side walk. good for him. in this grey winter city, orange is a brilliant choice! the snow has turned to rain, and there is lots of it. good. it's always nice when the city can get a good thorough washing, even though i must admit that i was looking forward to the snow lingering for a while. a soft white powdery nyc is a nice vision.

the 2 brothers (the boys) that i give english lessons to will go skiing this weekend. ages 9 and 10. i asked them if they have ever been skiing before. boy l. says, 'yes, when we were younger, but we don't remember.'

me, i've never been skiing. i tend to think i can't stay out in the cold for long periods of time. well, i can, i just prefer and choose not to. i don't like to be cold. but i hear with all that ski gear, you don't get cold. only reason i'd like to go skiing is to sit by the warm fire in the ski cabin and drink hot cocoa like they do in the those films. but up on the slopes... not sure how well i'd do. i should give it a try, i hear it's a beautful experience. hmmm...

first snow fall

we are having at this moment our first real snow fall of the year. the city is always lovely when the snow is soft and new. a quietness comes, and calms the hustle and bustle that tends to be the norm. i remember when i was in my early twenties, fresh out of university, with my first apartment in park slope, i used to stock up on haagen daz butter pecan ice cream, entenmann's chocolate chip cookies, and believe it or not, my favorite meal at the time was steamed broccoli. i'd rent a few films and hole up for the weekend... these days when the snow falls i love a nice walk in central park...

sunday brunch

i had a delicious lunch with g. this past sunday at cafe orlin. lady n., i think you and i and k. were there for a weekend brunch. now that i think of it, it was the first time we met. what a fantastic day. and then walking over to the boardwalk in greenwhich village to sit in the grass and talk...

well this past sunday i had poached egges and potatos. thing is, brunch in ny is a big thing. it's a wonderful way to meet with friends after an intense week and hang around, eat good food, and catch up.

christmas morning walks

woke up this morning and brushed my teeth, put on some clothes and went for a walk along the boardwalk with views of manhattan. the sky was big and blue, i thought what a nice thing on christmas day.

now i know folks like to have a white christmas, and i must admit there is something nice about seeing the cute little snow flakes falling on christmas eve. but in new york, lots of snow, and heavy snow storms are not unusual. so i know there will be plenty of time for snow with january vying for its turn in the winter months. for now, for me, it's nice that it's not too cold yet, and the sky is big and blue, with nice views.

i just thought it would be a nice way to start the day, it was. sweethearts and families and children up and out taking advantage of the morning. strangers smiling at one another, wishing merry christmas. why can't christmas be everyday?

while walking i noticed a number of folks with coffee in tow. i envy coffee drinkers, it really does seem like a pleasureable experience. coffee gives me the shakes, so i can't drink it, but for those who do, they seem to enjoy it so. such a sweet indulgence, no? a moment between you and your coffee... and new yorkers do like their coffee to go. something about it, having a boost while on the way to the next 'thing to do.' but this morning, walking along the boardwalk, there was no rush. folks were almost still, taking their time. couples holding hands, mommies and daddies pushing baby carriages, children testing out their new bicycles that 'santa' delivered only hours ago. hope all is good for you and yours this christmas.

new york wanderings

...ventured out to wander around new york city yesterday. i did one of the things i have always loved doing as a new yorker, that is, to get up and go out with absolutely no idea where i'm going or what i plan to do. i suppose the city invites this kind of behavior with so much to do and see. i thought i'd let my mood guide me about. as i was making my way through the shopping crowds on 34th street i realised that i was quite near to the new york public library on 5th avenue and 42nd street. a perfect walk on a perfect 'spring like' day although it is mid to late october. i always forget about visiting the library, it's like a museum surrounded by books. what i mean to say is, there is delicious art work; sculpture and paintings and photographs sprinkled in amongst all those books. and everyone looks so smart and studious there in the quiet with their books and laptops. it's inspiring just to want to study and do something and be really really good at it!

i then wandered up 5th avenue and stopped in St. Patrick's Cathedral. you can see here how gorgeous the cathedral is with its majestic columns and rainbow colored stain glass windows. the crowds were not free to wander as we normaly can at this moment. i wondered why, what's going on? without exageration, the main sanctuary was roped off as a bride (gorgeous dress!) was about to begin her wedding march. i sat down in another part of the church and admired all the pretty dresses, smart suits and shiny shoes. i was tempted to think about marriage and what it might mean. ...and then i thought it may be too big a subject to 'ponder' on this bright big sunfilled breezy day. ...all you need is love?...