Harrison & Summer

Must be "family" month for me. Today I was able to meet with Nikki's youngest cousins, Harrison (5 1/2) & Summer (2) visiting from North Dakota. Lisa and Sam treated me to lunch at Pizzeria Uno in Forest Hills. I forgot how busy little kids can be!


Summer...wary of me in the beginning


Harrison



Summer playing with the clamp that the waitress used to handle hot skillets





The kids - After Pizza

After the Dance

Tonight was Miranda's Alvin Ailey's dance recital. I have seen every one with the exception of last year's due to a family wedding. This year's was pretty special since it is the one after her surgery in October. Amazing.

The venue was Hostos Community College in the Bronx at their Main Theatre. Besides her own immediate family and myself, her grandmother, Shirley, her companion, Peter plus very close family friends, Susana & Rosa were also in attendance.

Miranda danced in 3 programs: Traditonal Jewish Dance, Two Concertos & All Aboard. Miranda showed so much poise and maturity in her talent that I was simply blown away. It was difficult to remember that these were students and not professionals.

Unfortunately cameras weren't allowed during the performances but I caught up with our "tiny dancer" afterwards.

Miranda and Xavier

Xavier, Rosa & Miranda

Miranda & her teacher

Me & Miranda

The Family

Group Shot

Happy 81st!

After my Sunday with Leslie, I had to leave her to return to Queens. Nikki's grandfather was celebrating his 81st birthday and there was a dinner at the Woo's.
Julia, Ray, Stan and Richie with his girlfriend, Shirley was also in attendance. Both grandparents are recuperating from medical conditions so take out from a near-by Chinese restaurant fit the bill. The grandparents were very happy to have the grandchildren celebrate with them. Best medicine there is! (And no...he doesn't dye his hair!!)

Still Goin' On!

Yes...it sounds crazy...it's May and I am still celebrating! I like it! Leslie and I don't get to see each other often and our get togethers are centered around our birthdays...6 months apart (& quite a few years). Mine in March, hers in September but somehow with our schedules...we seem to always celebrate in the other's month. This year, we almost got it right - kind of. We met up on March 27th but it was my treat for her special day. We had such a good time, we agreed to meet up sooner.

Leslie made reservations for brunch at Craft Bar. Broadway & 20th. Boy, do I love Sunday mornings in the city. There was a street fair going on Broadway which was perfect for our after meal activity. It was raining alittle but that wouldn't dampen our fun.

Craft Bar was the exact opposite of our last brunch spot which was Victorian chic while today's decor was trendy modern. Leslie was running late so I went to save our reservation. The hostess sat me in a back corner booth. It was probably one of the best seats in the house. I had read comments that it could be crowded and noisy but tucked away back there was so pleasant and felt private.

The waiter was attentive and very sweet. He got me coffee as requested while I waited. Leslie showed up just as the waiter delivered their flakey buttery biscuits.
She ordered 2 poached eggs, breakfast potatoes and sausage. I ordered their Brioche Pain Perdu which I had seen Tom Colicchio make on the Martha Stewart Show. With a side of their homemade breakfast sausages.


Biscuits (I already took a bite)


The Menu

The Brioche "French Toast" was delicate on the inside with a slightly crispy edging. It was served with Vermont maple syrup & an apple rubbard chutney but it was too tart for me. The sausage was so-so - not the best I ever tasted. I could have just had the brioche alone and been satisfied! Leslie's egg dish looked terrific and she enjoyed it, dipping her whole grain toast into the yolks.


Leslie's Dish


Brioche Pain Perdu

After this scrumptious dining experience, we walked through the fair. Leslie purchased a straw fedora which looked wonderful on her. It was $8! We came across Fishs Eddy and had to go in. I added to my collection of glass mugs. Great store.


New mug is on the left...squarish...

We ended up at The Coffee Shop on Union Square and I had an iced tea and she, a Virgin Bloody Mary. It totally hit the spot!

If I had my way...I would celebrate all year long!

A Day at the Yankees

My first Yankee game of the season with Nikki & Winnie. Tom was supposed to joined us but he had to bowed out and luckily, Nikki posted on FB whether anyone was attending the game. Her good friend, Jason, from high school and a Yankees fan asked if there was perhaps an extra ticket. The last time I was at a game with Nic was last year and we bumped into Jason there. I may have even blogged it. In any case, I thought he was a perfect choice to join us.

Winnie met me in Queens and I drove from there. We got to the stadium early in time for batting practice but only got to see the visiting Kansas City Royals. We were in an area where we could catch balls and the sun was beaming down on us. I took off a jacket and a hoodie to watch only in a tee shirt.

We got to our section (334) row 5, seats 32 & 31 (on the aisle). Great view. Breezy and started to feel chilly. On went the hoodie. Winnie ordered the most delicious garlic fries...oh my. We did save some for Nikki. She showed up with Jason soon after.



I didn't actually know Jason was going to be with us so didn't make a sausage hero for him. He went and got some food which looked totally yummy. Buffalo sliders and french fries.




It was a close game but Mariano came in and "saved" the game...3-1. We were happy ladies...and guy. :-)

Mother's Day 2011

A glorious Mother's Day! Weather was perfect.

We started out as 4 definite. My mother, Kathy, Tony and me. Then Nikki said yes. Kris was a no and Evelyn and family a maybe. By the end of the week, Evelyn and Tom were a yes but Tony bowed out today because he was feeling out of the weather.

Regardless...we had plenty of food. Ham, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes and stringbeans. Kathy made an oatmeal cake and Miranda, lemon bars. All very yummy!



Just a really nice way to spend celebrating Mothers - surrounded by family.

California Sunshine 1973

For many years when I was in my early teens, my dad started teasing us with a California vacation - that we would get to visit Disneyland. But summer after summer would go by and we never went west of NY. Finally, the year I turned 16, my dad and mom planned a big trip...Anaheim, San Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco - not necessarily in that order but I do know we flew out from SFO.

In essence it was a great trip but I was at that in between age. Feeling too old to be traveling with my parents but too young to do it on my own.

A few weeks ago, I realized that I hadn't seen any photos from that trip. Which is odd since we are a camera toting family. I broached the subject with my mom and she also wondered about the missing photos because she knew there were some! After investigating, she found the negatives. From a 110 camera which meant the negatives were tiny. None of the drugstores or photo places would make prints from them. I asked Nikki and she, being the genius that she is...produced. The quality isn't great but the memories the shots have brought are priceless.

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