My New Project--GMAT

I've started studying for the GMAT...I think I want to get my MBA in the not too distant future. The scores are good for 5 years and I have a comparatively light work load right now, so I thought maybe I should go for it. I'll aim for end of September to take it. E&Y has a program where they will pay for your MBA and you are guaranteed admission into NYU or Columbia if you are selected by E&Y. I'm not going for it though...for one, it's very competitive so I probably wouldn't get it anyway, for another...you are required to work at E&Y for another 5 years AFTER you get your MBA.

My Favorite Restaurant in All of NYC

This is Taverna Kyclades. It's my favorite restaurant ever, and it's located in Astoria, Queens, my old neighborhood. I don't know how they cook the fish, I think over an open grill, but its incredibly fresh tasting. This place is always always packed. I went last Wednesday with two friends, Kelly and Teresa, and we waited from 8 to 8:40 for a table...finally we took a table inside just so we could eat. You know it's amazing when you have to wait that long on a Wednesday, in Queens no less. The first time I ate here was with S on my 31st birthday. Here is a sample of the fish...doesn't look so great, but it tastes really good. This is red snapper, but I always get the sea bass and split with someone.
This is one of those places that you wouldn't make it to as a tourist...but now you know about it in case you feel like making the trip out to Astoria Queens for a really nice dinner.

My Holiday Weekend

This is where I will be! Acadia National Park...it's supposed to be one of the best national parks in the country. S and I are driving there from the city...a leisurely 10 hour drive, but should be awesome. Our plan is to stay Thursday night in Newport, Rhode Island and then finish the drive to Acadia on Friday morning, staying on the coast most of the way. Then we will have Saturday and Sunday for kayaking, hiking, whale watching, marshmallow roasting...and then we will drive straight through on Monday back to NYC.

We are renting a tent and one sleeping bag (I have one) and two sleeping pads all for just $40 for 3 days. The campsite itself was only $60 for 3 nights. I can't believe how cheap it is to go to amazing places like this park.

Connor's comin' to the BIG APPLE!

Here is a peak at my itinerary for Connor's trip. Of course I'm flexible...but we will probably just follow this list. Since you have to buy tickets to things way in advance, its actually pretty helpful to have an outline of what you are going to do if you want to squeeze in as much as possible. This is a pretty laid back trip though, not at all what I put Kurt and Debbie through. I planned for a lot of leisure time and as little walking as is possible. New York just requires a lot of walking though, it's hard to get around that.

Major stops: Central Park bike ride, Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, Times Square, Museum of Natural History, Washington Square Park & NYU, Wall Street, Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, Speedboat ride downtown, the Met, Jazz at Lincoln Center.

Excited for Connor to come visit!

City Island

On a whim I saw this movie a few weeks ago and it was so great! It was really funny and sweet and just a good time to watch, so I highly recommend you go see it.

Man Booker Prize

This is a partial view of a list I printed of all the Man Booker Prize winners...one of my book clubs is trying to read all the winners and short-listed authors. I'm totally motivated by lists, so it works for me. Last month we read The Remains of the Day (winner 1989) and next month we are covering Heat and Dust (winner 1975). On my own I've read Atonement, Life of Pi, Notes on a Scandal, Never Let Me Go, and I'm in the middle of The White Tiger. All of the books have been amazing. If you are looking for a queue of books to read, I highly recommend this list; you can access it here: Man Booker Prize Crib Sheet

CB2 Sale

CB2 is having a sale....I would buy everything from them if I could. I got the desk above before it went on sale, darnit. But, I really love it. Lately I'm wishing for rugs, like the tweed one below for under the dining table.
Then this shag one would be awesome for the living room...well, I only have one room, but you know...living "area" or "corner," if you will...

Grocery Store Black Hole

I went to Whole Foods for a quart of milk and bread...this is about $50 later. Every. Single. Time. See that cake looking thing in the middle? That is figs smashed into a wedge shape with almonds--it was amazing! I always keep an eye out for it now...it's a great dessert or good with cheese and crackers as a dinner, and with a glass of milk for breakfast...it works all ways.

Wednesday Night Dinners

This has been my weekly sushi habit every Wednesday for the last couple of months. On Wednesdays I'm downtown late for a volunteer thing I do and so I grab this from the grocery on my way to the subway. At first I only wanted the salmon...but I think tuna has taken over as my favorite. This is the only sushi I eat...I don't go for the rolls, not a fan of that oceany flavor of seaweed. Sushi is really popular in New York...I heard that Duane Reade, a local drugstore, is now carrying it.