Motown Comes to Nyack!

Miranda's Show...The Upper Nyack Fifth Grade Class of 2010 presented "Dancing in the Street - The Story of Motown". I wish I could add the music to this posting. It was happiness and joy all around. Fun!

Evelyn asked me to come early and help with hair & make-up. I invited a pro - Kathy and we pitched in backstage amid all the chaos & frenzy that is part of putting together a school play. Kudos to Evelyn on a fantastic job with making and getting the costumes together. She made the "Supremes" & "Marvelettes" gowns.


Miranda before hair & after make-up


Hair done!


Kathy hard at work


The proud aunts in the audience!




Miranda as part of the Supremes singing "Come See About Me"


One of the "famous" hats!






Miranda - part of the chorus


Miranda & Kaylie (after the show)


Miranda,Kaylie & Bella...beauties!!

And there were the adults....

Women folk..cleaning up after dinner


Mark & Xavier on the Internet trying to program a DVR taping...no luck


Tony...TV...

Me...armed with camera and video recorder....happiness...:-)

Mother's Day 2010

It was a particularly windy day and Chinatown was much quieter than usual especially on a "holiday".

Mom had her menu all planned out. Some take out...some home-cooked. She was preparing my very favorite...Lion's Head...Kris' favorite...braised black mushrooms with twiced-cooked roast pork....everyone's favorite - shrimp and lobster sauce...and an unusual dish of tender stalks of greens lightly drizzled with oyster sauce. She picked up soy sauce chicken, roast pork and we ordered in (Xavier's favorite) Peking Pork Chops and Egg Foo Young...Tony's favorite. Everything was delicious and nothing was left over.

Miranda is getting ready to perform in her 5th Grade play centering around Motown music. Evelyn was in charge of making the costumes and enlisted our help. With everyone chipping in, she was able to finish all she needed to do.










The girls hard at work


Miranda modeled the hat Kathy put together


Nikki modeled her "good job"









My place is scented with the lovely peonies Nikki gave me. Awesome.

In Home Study

Today was the second half of my participation in a focus group regarding grocery shopping. I was invited to an in-home study. Emily who was leading the discussion on Tuesday arrived promptly at 10am with her assistant, Sherry. They came with recorders and video equipment and promised I wouldn't be on any "You Tube" video and since I didn't have to sign any releases - I trust this to be true.

Sherry set up the camera on a tri-pod and Emily started the recorder. We sat around my dining table and Emily had a set of questions on her list. Mainly she wanted to discuss my shopping habits. I had all my Wednesday circulars and coupons ready for her to look at. We talked about all the different stores in my area and I gave my opinion of having Aldi's in the neighborhood which I think will be an asset.

Then they wanted a peek into my kitchen. Looked in the cupboards and the refrigerator. Questioned what I liked to buy and then asked me to choose 3-4 items in my fridge that would best represent me. I said - "milk, coffee, chicken, spring greens and cold cuts". Suddenly Emily pointed to one of the drawers in the fridge and asked "Is that a chocolate bin" and sure enough...yes it was!! I keep all my chocolates in there among other things but essentially it's chocolate and she had to take a picture! She said this was the 2nd time she had seen this and was amazed!! Although the other lady kept her veggie and crisper bin stuffed with chocolates and I have much less since I just can't have that many sweets. LOL

Then it was time to go shopping. First I was "miked" since they weren't going to start taping me inside a public store. They had a car and Sherry drove. I led them to Met Food where I picked up 2 dozen eggs on sale for 99 cents...(for Kathy) - 2 bottles of seltzer for $1 - Downey softener on sale for $2.99 and I had $1 coupon. My total came to $5.42 which included the bottle deposit and tax.

I showed them the Korean market right across the street and pointed out the other Korean market up the street across from a Key Food. I said that with all these stores within a 3 block radius, they were all still in business so there must be enough for all to go around. Aldi's would be located across the boulevard and they had not seen the area so we got back in the car and did a drive-by. We drove around the entire area...I wanted them to see the huge apartment complexes behind the mall and Emily exclaimed that they would make a profit just from those apartment buildings alone!

From there, I had Sherry drive us towards Trader Joe's to give them an idea how far away it was and still so many people shop there. We drove through the parking lot to let them see how inadequate the parking situation really is. During this time, I asked why I was chosen to be part of this study. My zip code was a factor and since it is costly for the in home participation, they chose people who have lots to say!! As Emily said...they do not want a "dud". She did say that New Yorkers shop like no other people! It was fascinating to them that "we" are willing to go to several different stores to buy different products.

Then they drove me back towards my home and I asked if they wanted to come back inside but basically I was done. I took off my mike. Emily gave me a white envelope that had her business card and $250 in cash! It was 11:30am when I walked back in my door. One and a half hour of work...how can I sign up to do this on a weekly basis??? :-)

Focus Group Panelist

After years of filling out screening surveys, I was finally asked to participate on a test panel. Their screening process was intense. Many emails and then 3 phone calls to confirm my information.

I chose the 12 noon / 2 hour panel which paid $100. They also had an 8pm session which paid $75 because apparently it is more difficult to get people in during the day. I was also asked if I would be willing to participate in a 2.5 hour in-home study which would pay $250. At first I wasn't too keen on doing that but without consent, I wouldn't be eligible for the first part and the $250 was pretty good incentive. The study was "grocery shopping".

The panel was held in their offices located on Madison Ave and the 30th's. Easy to get to and I was told to arrive 15 minutes earlier for check-in. Just as I was about to leave, my cell rang and it was another call to remind me of my appointment!

The train was quick and I was 45 minutes early so I sat by the 42nd St library and read more of my book. At 11:30, I headed for the offices. It was a fairly easy walk and the elevator opened to their reception area. I presented my ID and was given another very simple form to fill out - name, age, zip code and my consent to the additional in-home study.

Just past noon, a woman came out to get us. We were a group of seven women in various ages and ethnic background. We followed her through the lengthy hallway which were very nicely decorated and to a conference room where Emily awaited us. We took our chairs and placed our pre-printed name cards in front of us.

The study was about grocery shopping. As we went around the room introducing ourselves...we were also asked to say what was our favorite food. The first 3 ladies that went ahead of me, all were from Forest Hills! How odd. After I said, Rego Park, the next two were from Flushing and then another Forest Hills. Later, I realized it was our "address" that also led us to be part of this panel. And I mentioned sushi as my favorite food.

We spoke of the different places where we buy our groceries...such as Key Food, Pathmark, Trader Joe's and BJ's to name a few. After we listed the different stores, we had to list the pros and cons of each establishment. We had other "exercises" that we worked on in small groups and then was asked individually of which store(s) were frequented the most. Almost everyone mentioned Trader Joe's along with another store.

Emily ended the discussion by mentioning a new concept in grocery shopping. As she started to described it, I knew exactly what she was speaking of and said so. She smiled and continued speaking and I kept the name under wraps. Finally she asked me to say the name which I did..."Aldi's" one of my very favorite stores when I am upstate! It was coming to Queens! I asked where. The Rego Park Center where Kohl's, Century 21 are located....walking distance for me. I was thrilled and raved about this place. Only one other lady heard of it and that was because she is European and had once lived in Germany.

Two hours passed exactly and we were done. We filed out and received our $100 checks. How cool! And easy!

Within 30 minutes of being home, I received a call from them. They would like to invite me for the in-home study! Cha-ching! Emily will be arriving at my home at 10am Thursday and will conduct an hour interview and then we will go shopping as she observes where, how and what I buy. This is going to be very interesting!!! To be continued....

Pastis & The High Line

I met Leslie January 1999. I went on a single's Club Med vacation in Mexico and we hit it off and have remained friends ever since. That whole experience is for another posting on another day.

Today I met up with her for a visit which we try to do at least twice a year...for our birthdays and to catch up. We planned on Sunday brunch and agreed on Pastis in the meat packing district. She was only able to get a reservation for 10:30.



I decided to take the subway in and drove my car to Forest Hills to catch the E express. Being Sunday, there was plenty of parking right by the station. When I got to the platform, an E arrived but something was different. It was running on the local track. As we finally got into the city, I started to get apprehensive. The conductor kept announcing we were running on the local 2nd Avenue line. I didn't want to be on the east side! When we reached 50th & 8th Avenue, I jumped out and thought I could switch for the C. Boy, was I wrong! The C wasn't running and I had to wait for the E again after I was just on it! It was already 10:15. Luckily, I was able to call Leslie and she was also running late because of traffic on the West Side Highway. Both of us felt better that we weren't making the other wait and still agreed to meet at Pastis just in case we were able to get in. If not, there were plenty of other places we could try.

I did get there at 10:45. The place was packed especially the preferred outdoor seating. Leslie was about 4 blocks away but I waited for her. Amazingly when we explained our situation of missing our 10:30 reservation, the hostess said "no problem" and led us to the best table in the place. It was in a corner that overlooked the whole restaurant and we were informed this was where VIP and celebrities are seated and I can believe it! It was just oh-so-French!


The "VIPS"

We both ordered the Croque Madame. I figured it was the best of all worlds...French bread, ham, cheese and a fried egg. OMG..it was delicious!! The biggest surprise to me were all the Asians working there. Older Chinese men as busboys. Our wonderful waitress was also Asian and very attentive, sweet and friendly. We finished off with dessert...Leslie ordered the fruit platter of strawberries and blackberries and clotted cream. I ordered the special of the day...gooey sticky cake with a scoop of ice cream. When I took the first bite, I thought I was in heaven. I was so engrossed I completely forgot to take a picture! The whole meal was a lovely birthday treat from Leslie.


Many drinks...later...

It was a very warm day and the sun was shinning brightly. I suggested we walk over to The High Line and check it out. Wow! Beautifully restored and designed, it's an awesome space for everyone in the city. We were able to sit and soak in the sunshine...enjoying the ambience and each other.


View from The High Line of 14th Street

Art & Design HS Reunion 2010

I don't feel old. And I don't feel I look old. But when I hear or read something like "35th High School Reunion" - that seems OLD! But there it was. 35 years have passed since I graduated from high school. Is that possible?? It feels like it was yesterday.

I helped plan the 25th reunion ten years ago. It was a huge endeavor and I wasn't interested in that kind of commitment. So it was with an eye-brow raising reaction when I found myself in the middle of it all with the 35th. It started innocently enough. Rosemarie, the organizer put it out on Face Book that she was planning something. She already had the place and date. I offered to help by announcing it on Classmates unaware that when I did that, I would be listed as the organizer!! Many disclaimers later, I was still in the thick of it! Rose first asked me to help distribute the name tags and then I ended up designing and making them.



Our Event was held on a Friday evening at an upscale restaurant bar named STK in the meat packing district. We would have a private room with an open bar and passed hor d'oeuvres. I arrived an hour earlier to set up. As "classmates" started to arrived, I was lucky enough to have been able to greet everyone and get at least one chance to say Hello. We had 50 attendees and it was a perfectly delightful night filled with reminisces and so many smiles. Some of us hadn't set eyes on each other in the 35 years...others 25 or less. But we were so happy to be with each other again.


"Welcome!!" (At my station)

As I wrote on my FB page to my classmates:

"There is something very special about being with people that knew you when you were 16, 17, 18. That part of our lives of being on the edge of adulthood with no responsibilities but old enough to start becoming who we are going to be. I was very sheltered and being part of A&D, meeting all of you...changed my world....my life. When we come together again over the years, it's always a feeling of belonging...of feeling young again because in a way I still see all of you, regard all of you, as if we were 16, 17, 18. What a wonderful phenomenon!"

Over the next few days, photos were posted and emailed left and right. A treasure trove! I can't include them all here but am so happy that I have them in my possession. The following were taken by various friends and I am grateful they were around to record these moments for me.


Flint & Me


Two of my favorite people, Amy & Marianne


Suzana, Julia & Polly


Friends


Jay & Bari (my fellow 25th organizers & Rose)


Jay & Me..planning the 40th???


Jimmy & Me


Jimmy, Al, Amy & Me


The Group Shots