It's Christmastime in the City

Happy, Happy! Merry, Merry!

If you're in NYC this Christmas, check out the tree at Rockefeller Center. Then head to Bergdorf Goodman to peek inside the holiday windows.

It's well worth braving the cold!

Then cozy up inside The Oak Room for Christmas cocktails. But if that's too crowded, grab a burger or grilled cheese at the secret Burger Joint at Le Parker Meridien. And have a very Merry Christmas!

Bright lights, big city

Anselm Kiefer

In NYC

November roundup: an anniversary, a holiday, a birthday

Time flies! Seth and I've been married for only a year, but it feels like a decade. We celebrated our first wedding anniversary (November 16) at Bemelmans Bar at the Carlyle, which is famous for its murals by the artist for which the bar was named.

The celebration continues with Thanksgiving on the 'bush. I was nervous about making the Turkey this year, but, luckily, it turned out crispy and brown on the outside, juicy on the inside.

The usual crowd--more or less--with Bryan behind the camera.

On the menu: honey brined turkey, green bean casserole, oyster dressing, cranberry dressing, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, fruit salad, and Parker house rolls, with Kaori's enari sushi for appetizers and a spicy chocolate cake, Charlie's heavenly flan (Charlie, if you're reading this, I really, really want the recipe!!), and Bryan's pear pancake surprise.

Can you spot the surprise? Oops!

And good things come in threes--Happy Birthday Seth!

The White House in miniature

Talk about a doll house lover's dream come true! "Inside the White House: A Special Exhibit" was on display at the Ronald W. Reagan Presidential Foundation & Library when we visited in October. It's almost impossible to see in this photo, but the presidential garbage cans are there, too!

I could have spent hours peeking inside the tiny windows and behind the scenes, marveling at the glorious chandeliers (with electricity!), historical artwork, and exquisitely carved and upholstered furniture--all painstakingly reproduced down to the last detail at a scale of one inch to one foot.

These floors probably weren't so shiny during the Carter administration, since young Amy Carter used this room as her personal roller rink.

This miniaturized replica of the White House was created and updated by John and Jan Zweifel over the course of about 40 years--and it's still a work in progress.

See the rooms at the very top of the White House behind the balcony railing? That's where the Bush twins lived when W. was in office.

When any of the rooms are redecorated in the White House, the Zweifels make the same changes in their version of the White House. So, for example, you can get a glimpse into the Obama's chic yet cozy living quarters exactly as they are today, complete with stylish wallpaper, family photos, and the ultimate accessory, Bo, the Portuguese Water Dog. You won't see this lovely room on tour at the White House!

Unfortunately, the miniature version of the Oval Office rug that made headlines wasn't ready when I visited the exhibit, but it might be ready by now.

If you're in the area I wholeheartedly recommend seeing it, especially since this exhibit is eventually moving to the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. I also read that it has been (or will be???) on display in every state so that everyone gets the chance to peek inside the White House, even if they can't make it to our country's capital. See more pics here.

Spotted in Red Hook...

Spotted at the 2010 NYC Marathon

Seth and I usually wake up early enough to see the elites, but this year despite daylight savings, we overslept and missed them. It was fun to see the Marathon from a new vantage point, though--the corner of Flatbush Avenue and Fourth Avenue:And strolling through Fort Greene:

Furries(?)...and more furries!

Feet...er, hands don't fail me now! See more photos here.

Exploring tide pools at Leo Carrillo State Park

This is the first time I've ever seen a tide pool and I'm hooked! This is a sea anemone. When you poke it it bunches up into a little ball and looks like a pile of rocks and sand. It squirts water and its tentacles are sticky like a leech. Later, I learned that you really shouldn't touch them since they've got a nasty sting.

Orange starfish like these and the purple ones like the one pictured in the "California in Mosaics and Photos" post--along with too many hermit crabs to count--abound in these tide pools. If anyone knows what they're called leave a comment and let me know!

Leo Carrillo State Park is popular destination for camping, swimming and beach combing, but when we visited it seemed like we were the only people on the coast for miles. See more of Seth and my California vacation at my Flickr account.

The Virgin Knitters

Back in 2008, my friend Kim taught me to knit in exchange for my first scarf as part of her Virgin Knitter project:

Kim and Justin.

She started this project because (as she says on her Web site): "I believe that the first scarf a person makes is especially unique—even lucky—because you can only make something for the first time once."

Well, lucky me-- last night my scarf was part of the collection of first scarves on display at the Textile Arts Center in Brooklyn.

There was music and dancing by Radio Jarocho.

It was okay to take the artwork off the wall to try it on. I met a lot of people who said they wanted to learn to knit because of Kim's exhibit. It really is inspiring. Makes me want to (finally!) finish my second scarf.

Laurie modeling Tina's scarf. (Tina, if you're reading this, wish you could have been here!)

Everyone got to bid on their favorite scarf/scarves. But not for money. To win one of these scarves you have to explain why you like it or what it means to you. Bids ran the gamut from serious, to heartfelt, to funny. And in some cases, a little bit crazy:

Here's the scarf that started it all:

There's still time to check out the show. Read more about it in BUST (the red scarf in the bottom picture is mine!) and see more pics at my flickr account. Thanks, Kim, for teaching me how to knit and congrats on your exhibit!

California in mosaics and photos

Carrillo's Tortilleria in Canoga Park. It's in the same strip mall as a pupusaria. Too bad we were way too full to try west coast pupusas!

San Buenaventura Mission in downtown Ventura.

Starfish and tide pools.

Air Force One beautifully displayed at the Ronald W. Reagan Presidential Foundation & Library.

A stormy late afternoon in the normally sunny Ojai Valley.

Lovely mosaics depicting the history of Ventura, CA, by artist Larissa Strauss, can be seen at the Museum of Ventura County. See more of Seth and my vacation at my Flickr account.

Somewhere over the rainbow...

Spotted 27 October 2010 on Bergen Street...and in Dumbo and over the Brooklyn Bridge and here and here.

California dreamin'

Wonder if I'll see my long lost twin again!