Further Exploration: Astoria

Yesterday, the universe wanted us to stay in Queens.
We did try to get to Chinatown to pick up my new glasses
but the MTA was against us (what a surprise)
We accepted our fate and wandered around Astoria.

















Our time was spent brunching, checking out the new exhibits 
at the Museum of the Moving Image, stopping in at my favorite
vintage store (I got 2 new shirts!), walking down to the sculpture park on the river,
meandering over to another riverfront park, and then grabbing
delicious snacks at Queens Kickshaw.  We had the beet pasta alfredo
and the roasted seasonal vegetables. So satisfying after an extremely long walk.
I also made friends with a fat cat that reminded me of Maru. Another bonus.

















We got back to the house around 7, laid around watching
junk movies that were on tv.  Around 9 we made a late dinner,
seared tuna over a spinach, romaine, carrot and cucumber salad
with a ginger vinaigrette.  It was such a perfect Sunday.

A Year in Books: April

*The Great Gatsby-F. Scott Fitzgerald
I re-read the Great Gatsby because the movie is coming out,
and I always like to revisit. I do this with any movie that has a book.
I also realized recently that I've read Gatsby at 3 different stages of my life
and each time have taken something different from it.
I read it in high school, I don't think that much registered.
College, the symbolism kicked in and I had a better understanding
of who the characters were.
Presently, I'm about the same age as most of the characters.
I see them for the kind of people they really are, and understand
the story much more than the last 2 times. Most of all I found
it to be extremely sad and a cautionary tale about living anywhere
but the present.



*Galapagos-Kurt Vonnegut

Believe it or not, Galapagos was my first Vonnegut experience.
I know, he's one of the husbands favorites and just an awesome
author in general but it just never happened.  I'm slow to read a lot of
the classics, mostly because I seek out either mystery novels or wine books
when I'm in a bookstore.  If you've been keeping up with this list
than you already know this.    I did love this book, it had the magical realism feel
that you find in the Murakami books, and there were so many interesting characters
all woven together in some way (usually through coincidence-another theme that I love)
We have a lot of Vonnegut's books in our library, I'm looking forward to reading more of them.


*How to Love Wine- Eric Asimov

 This is a wine book for everyone. It offers a great way to approach wine,
how to taste, how to learn, and-of course- how to love.  I like reading these
wine memoirs because it's a reminder that most people in the wine world started
in the same place.  The blessing and the curse about wine is that you'll never know everything,
and you'll never know everything.  But it's about finding the relationship that is right for you,
like any hobby or interest.  Highly recommend this one for anyone that is into wine, or wants
to understand it a little better.

Further Exploration: Chinatown

The Nom Wah Tea Parlor has been on my list for
some time now and yesterday I finally got to go!

It's situated right at the bend of Doyers St, also known
as the "Bloody Angle" , and has occupied that same
space since 1968. But it has been in business since 1920
(The original space was one door up)
















The inside has a bit of a diner feel, filled with booths,
tables and a counter but the high ceilings give it an airy
quality.  Instead of the carts being pushed they give you a
checklist of their menu and you mark off the items that
you would like.  So much better than the cart process.

I went with my friend Sharon, who I had not seen
in such a long time.  This ended up being the perfect place
 to catch up.  They don't rush you out, there are
cheap pots of tea, and the food is really delicious.

We ordered Turnip cakes, scallion pancakes a pork bun,
vegetable dumplings,  pan fried noodles, and a large pot of a tea
called Iron Buddha.


My favorites were the scallion pancake and the
pan fried noodles, least favorite was the veg dumpling.

It's definitely not something that I need to be eating
on a regular basis but this is definitely going on
my list of favorite places in the city,

New Sketches

I FINALLY did some new sketches since, you know,
this is happening this weekend.



















I'll be heading to the paper store today for some
supplies, and hopefully the gocco will be kind
and I will be able to sell these on Saturday.

Ladies and Gents, may I present
the Queens Raccoon and Mr. Narwhal

Come out this Saturday if you can :)

Perfect Day

We had a little brunch soiree in our backyard yesterday!

















There was bocce ball, a blind wine tasting,
and of course the spread.

















On the menu:
Brunch Cocktail-Grapefruit juice, campari, st. germain and prosecco

Buttered radish toasts
Fennel, citrus, spinach salad with mint
roasted asparagus
sauteed broccoli rabe
french toast bread pudding with rhubarb sauce and
 bourbon vanilla whipped cream
poblano and mushroom quiche with polenta crust
bacon


It was so great to see everyone and to enjoy the backyard
on such a perfect spring day. I'm kind of thinking that this
should become a monthly thing!

City Sanctuary

I ate my oatmeal in the backyard today.

If i didn't have this option I don't know if I could stay in the city.

It is so nice to be able to come out and enjoy the sunshine, or even

just look out the kitchen window and see some greenery.

They should have built the entire city like this, everyones quality

of life would just skyrocket.  

Now if only I could get these backyard animals to be friends with me.

Damn my Disney upbringing. I always want to feel like Princess Aurora

or Giselle. Minus the singing.

Latest Obsessions

*Gatsby
I know it looks like it could go either way, and maybe it's just
the 11 year old in me that wants to relieve that Romeo and Juliet experience...
But I do love The Great Gatsby. I love anything that is extravagant and gaudy.
So I'm thinking that I will go see this, anyone care to join me?

*Birthday Dress
I'm pretty sure that there are 3 people that think about my birthday
well in advance. Me, the husband (mostly because he has to hear me talk about it)
and my Mom.  That will be my birthday dress, a gift from my Mom :)
I know that you are thinking it may seem a little tame, but remember,
we're going to be in Charleston-in July. The humidity is not kind down there.
a lightweight flamingo dress is just the thing.

*The Last Bookshop
A great short film about the wonder of books.
What a sad world it would be without them.

*On Being Kind
The little things really do make all the difference.

*Letter Writers Alliance
How great is this? More people should write letters.
There is nothing like receiving something in the mail-
that isn't a bill or junk.