Ice-Skating and Brunch...a Great Combo!

I have never really won anything big…the first time I felt I won something was a Halloween night that my parents allowed Kathy & me to go trick or treating. I received the typical candies but one place where a party was going on, I got a can of orange soda! Jackpot!

I had accepted an invitation to a benefit that my sister Evelyn was involved in. It was Oct 3, 1991. I brought Nikki along and although details are vague now, I believe it was held in SoHo somewhere. There were balloons that held prizes. The balloon that Nikki and I chose had a wonderful prize. Mark, my brother-in-law said it was the best one. It was brunch at Tribeca Grill and I think the value was up to $100. The restaurant had opened just a year earlier to much fanfare and rave reviews - one of the owners being Robert DeNiro.

I decided to make it a girls’ day out. It was March 22, 1992 and both Nikki’s and my birthday had just passed and Evelyn’s was coming up in April so it was also celebratory. I invited my sisters Kathy & Evelyn along with my niece Kristina and of course, Nikki. Nikki (age 7) had been ice-skating a lot and I had her fitted with skates that cost me at least an arm if not a leg! I had it all planned. I ordered a stretch limo - at the time, my company had been doing a lot of business with a limo company and Ed, the owner and chauffer had become a good friend. He picked up Kathy, Kris, Nikki and myself at my place in Queens. Then we drove into the city to get Evelyn who was living in Manhattan at the time. From there, Ed dropped us off at an ice-skating rink on 34th Street and the East side.


In the limo with their favorite Aunt Bicky

We skated around…I am always surprised how it just comes back to me…like riding a bike except I don’t know how to ride a bike! It was quite cold and I think this was a first for Kristina. Kathy wouldn’t skate so she was the photographer.








Nikki in her very expensive but very pretty skates

After our session ended, it was time for brunch. We were driven to Tribeca Grill where we had a great time. Since none of us drank, the 5 of us were able to have entrees and it came to about $100. So perfect!

It was such a luxury to have a car and driver just waiting for us wherever we went! The girls loved seeing the wide spacious inside along with bar and TV. We dropped off Evelyn and then was returned to Queens. It was simply a lovely date spent with some of my most favorite people in the world.

Peek-A-Boo!

I was watching Sunday morning TV and CBS was show-casing the Met's new exhibit of "The Model & The Muse". Models & fashion and the evolution through the years. The commentator mentioned the 60's when clothes started to be more di-constructed and women didn't wear bras, corsets or slips. This invoked a memory of me standing on Mulberry Street at one of the side entrances of my grade school P.S. 23. It might have been lunch time when we were allowed outside of school and a bunch of us were playing or hanging out. A young slim caucasian woman walked by. She was wearing one of the first see-through blouses - sheer & white in color. Oh, I know...Scandalous!! She passed us with nary a glance. But I remembered the boys were agog - their eyes bulging out and mouths hanging opened. Oh what a ruckus she caused this little group. In all honesty, I didn't know what the big whoop was but their reaction caught my attention. If I could have, I might have tried to wear one but at 10 or 11 years old - it wasn't easy to find! LOL...who am I kidding?? My mother wouldn't even let me wear bell-bottoms!

4th of July - Part 2

Thanks to Nikki....Miranda made it to the party! :-)

The 4th of July 2009

It was a great 4th of July filled with fabulous weather and lots of family. My perfect kind of day.



Nikki came up with Tom for the first time and we won’t talk about the disastrous drive they had but I was just thankful they kept going instead of giving up and returning home.

Evelyn, Mark & Xavier were also in attendance making it extra special. We were planning to celebrate Xavier’s 14th birthday and his graduation from Middle school.

And although we had a great time, it did make me think of past Independence days. For awhile, when my dad was still alive and the upstate community was at its height of popularity, it was very festive. And HOT! I didn’t have my own house then and would arrive by bus or car after work. Nikki would already be there arriving earlier in the week with my parents. My dad would have fireworks and when darkness descended, the kids would stand outside in a circle holding sparklers or incense sticks while different poppers, star-twirlers and various other fireworks were being set off. All of us oohing and ahhing and the kids screaming or giggling. It really was carefree and wonderful. And the kick-off to the season.

It’s still an unofficial start of the season. And I was happy that we had some warm weather. When Nikki & Tom showed up….finally…Xavier couldn’t wait to take Tom on in basketball and while they were shooting hoops, Nikki got Kris to play some tennis and catch. The rest of us sat out on my deck chatting and laughing.





Kathy made delicious BBQ ribs…2 kinds…an Asian variety (“Is this the Asian one”?) and an another that had a spicy rub. She also made her famous cornbread souffle. I made Lime Adobo chicken with chimichurri but hardly anyone touched it. I also put out a tossed field salad with avocado. We had too much food. Evelyn brought sweet corn on the cob and had a contest with Kathy on who could eat it neater and had a cleaner cob. Kathy won. But I think she’s had a lot of practice.

Nikki baked a birthday chocolate cake for Xavier and we presented it with his gifts of Xbox games.



The only thing that was missing and did change the whole dynamic of the get-together was Miranda who was away at sleep-away horse camp. Yep…it was a lot less drama, less noise but she is our own sparkler and we missed that a lot.

Peruvian Gifts

Nikki returned home this morning from her trip to Peru with Tom. She spent 9 days there visiting Lima and hiking Machu Picchu. From the sound of things, she ate fabulous food and had a tremendous experience - I am awaiting to see her 1000 photos.

More importantly is what she brought home to me! Prior to her trip, she threatened to get me a Peruvian poncho a la Ugly Betty..but more colorful.



Of course, I would LOVE anything she got me but a poncho is just sooo not me. I asked for a key chain...preferably with my name. I have a thing about that. LOVE seeing my name!! More so because it's hard to find. So if ever I see anything that has "Esther" printed on it...I buy it!

I had gone to Acapulco when I was 23 and was alone on the beach. A peddler came by and said he had necklaces with my name. I scoffed. No way! But he was adament. I challenged him and told him my name and he opened his black case and pulled out a gold necklace with a huge ESTHER plaque! OMG!! And as much as I was amazed, I actually passed on this one!

I have these 2 key chains...top one is from San Francisco - bottom from Hawaii. I also have a beautiful wooden pen with my name engraved on it which I found in Bar Harbor but I can't seem to locate it and you know it's driving me crazy right now.



Well...Nikki pulled out my first gift. WOW! I LOVE it! (already attached to my car key)- even she couldn't believe she found this for me!



And then my second and third..gorgeous alpaca wool scarves. So soft...really lovely.


As thrilled as I am for Nikki - I am more thrilled that she is home, safe and sound.

Go Yankees!!!

Nikki and I went to the new Yankees stadium last night. Although a beautiful night, it was pretty windy sitting all the way near the top along with the birds!


We're pretty high up!


Wearing my Yankees hoodie-b-day gift from Nikki

The stadium is gorgeous and we enjoyed the whole experience especially with the Yankees winning 9-1 against the Orioles. A couple of home runs (A-Rod and Texiera) certainly makes for a great game!


The Great Hall - great meeting place

Entering the stadium, they allowed food and bottles of water. And they don’t even need you to transfer it to a clear plastic bag. I like it!


Miss Yankee of Liberty

Nikki made a friend…as she seems to do a lot these days! A row of guys sat in front of us and one of them (Andrew) took a liking to her and sat with her a bit. He was also a little tipsy but it was all in good fun. After he left to smoke a cigarette -he never came back as Nikki predicted since she felt he would never find his way back!

I discovered “Garlic Fries” - omigosh…they are wicked good! Nikki said she is going to try to make them and I hope she does! I would prefer not having to pay $6 to eat them again!


Worth it!!!

I have always loved that first moment of entering a ball park. It is just exhilarating to see the green field and baseball players. I remembered one of the first times I was at a game and the vendors would come around hawking their wares. A guy was throwing bags of peanuts through the air and people were catching them! FREE PEANUTS…or so I thought and grabbed a bag - delighted at my prize…until I had to dish out $5! That was an expensive lesson especially since I don’t even like peanuts! Suffice it to say…I never made that mistake again!


Leaving the stadium at night...so pretty!


The crowds descending...

Tap Tap Tap...& Twirl

Today was Miranda's performance with Alvin Ailey and she showed off her tap-dancing and ballet. Unfortunately we were not allowed to take any photos of the actual show. Darn!

Miranda was gorgeous as usual and danced beautifully! Made all of us want to start taking classes.

After the show, I was able to snap away and so instead of sending photos to everyone, I will just post it here for all to see. Enjoy!


Miranda & her ballet teacher


Miranda & her beautiful friends & fellow dancers


Evelyn, Mark & Miranda


Miranda & her Nana, Shirley


Tom, Miranda & Nikki


Miranda & her favorite Aunt