Saturday, January 16, 2010
S is Making a Move
A move to a new firm, that is. He just accepted a position at Pricewaterhouse Coopers. It's going to be insane hours, but a good opportunity, so yay for him! He got an e-mail on Monday requesting a meeting and resume; he interviewed on Friday; got an offer on Saturday--crazy quick, yeah? It's a very prestigious firm and I'm really proud of him for nailing his interview there. Way to go, S!
Dinner Tonight
Tonight I cooked Mushroom Bourguignon from smittenkitchen.com. It was sooo delicious. This is definitely going into rotation. Even better, it was really easy to throw together and didn't use too many dishes. I used both cremini and portobello, but I liked the cremini best so I'm going to stick with that in the future. I also don't like whole pearl onions, so I quartered them. I had a problem getting them soft, so next time I'll add them in earlier. To find this, go to smittenkitchen.com and look for her recipe link in the left margin of the page. Then select winter foods and you will find this recipe in the list. Sorry, got to figure out that hyperlink thing still. Anyway, go there, find this recipe, and then make it. You will be happy.
For the Love of Hot Chocolate
I started my day with coffee straight-up this morning...ran out of milk. I'm really liking the pumpkin spice coffee we picked up at Porto Rico Importers last week. It's so much cheaper to make coffee at home than to buy it out so I'm going to try to keep doing that.
So now that it's officially busy season, S has to work on Saturday mornings. This week we decided to meet in Union Square in the afternoon and have some hot chocolate at City Bakery. We've tried the hot chocolate at a few different places and we think City Bakery is the best. On my way to meet S I made a detour at Central Park so I could get some lunch at a cart on 53rd and 6th. I decided to take a walk down 5th Avenue on my way there. On 5th Avenue, I only shop for these: 
hot chestnuts! Love 'em. But I do really like looking at all the designer store fronts and window displays. Here is a series of the big names on 5th Avenue.
I think the Apple store is very cool. Watch out on those glass stairs if you wear a skirt though!
This is the Bergdorf Goodman, men's store.
In December, I always make a trip down 5th Avenue. It's always decorated so beautifully--and when you get to 50th you can see the tree a block away in Rockefeller Center. Below is one of the lingering decorations.
This is Harry Winston.
Henri Bendel.
This is the front and the side of a gorgeous church on 53rd Street. 
Passing by MoMA; almost at the food cart on 6th.
And here they are. Chicken and Rice platter, please.
This is where I like to sit and eat when it's warm enough, like it was today--finally!
After lunch, I made my way to the subway to get a ride to Union Square. On the way, I passed by Radio City, which is another building I love in the city. So far I've been to two shows here. I saw the Rockette's in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular when Dad and Alicia visited two years ago. That was a really fun show. Then last summer, S and I saw a Tori Amos concert here. Its a really beautiful venue.
This is under the awning at Radio City.
Here is a view from the side. Art Deco is my favorite architecture style, so I love walking through Rockefeller Center where there is so much of it.
Here are NBC Studios down the street.
And finally at City Bakery.
Some seating inside.
Where the magic happens.
Yum! That is a handmade marshmallow on top. We always get a "to go" cup because S is convinced that you get a larger quantity for the same price. He's budget-minded like that.
So now that it's officially busy season, S has to work on Saturday mornings. This week we decided to meet in Union Square in the afternoon and have some hot chocolate at City Bakery. We've tried the hot chocolate at a few different places and we think City Bakery is the best. On my way to meet S I made a detour at Central Park so I could get some lunch at a cart on 53rd and 6th. I decided to take a walk down 5th Avenue on my way there. On 5th Avenue, I only shop for these: 
hot chestnuts! Love 'em. But I do really like looking at all the designer store fronts and window displays. Here is a series of the big names on 5th Avenue.
I think the Apple store is very cool. Watch out on those glass stairs if you wear a skirt though!
This is the Bergdorf Goodman, men's store.
In December, I always make a trip down 5th Avenue. It's always decorated so beautifully--and when you get to 50th you can see the tree a block away in Rockefeller Center. Below is one of the lingering decorations.
This is Harry Winston.
Henri Bendel.
This is the front and the side of a gorgeous church on 53rd Street. 
Passing by MoMA; almost at the food cart on 6th.
And here they are. Chicken and Rice platter, please.
This is where I like to sit and eat when it's warm enough, like it was today--finally!
After lunch, I made my way to the subway to get a ride to Union Square. On the way, I passed by Radio City, which is another building I love in the city. So far I've been to two shows here. I saw the Rockette's in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular when Dad and Alicia visited two years ago. That was a really fun show. Then last summer, S and I saw a Tori Amos concert here. Its a really beautiful venue.
This is under the awning at Radio City.
Here is a view from the side. Art Deco is my favorite architecture style, so I love walking through Rockefeller Center where there is so much of it.
Here are NBC Studios down the street.
And finally at City Bakery.
Some seating inside.
Where the magic happens.
Yum! That is a handmade marshmallow on top. We always get a "to go" cup because S is convinced that you get a larger quantity for the same price. He's budget-minded like that.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Need a New Purse
My purse is in bad need of replacement. I've been using the same one for about 5 years. I actually don't like shopping for things like this so I try to pick out one that I will like until it falls apart. I like schlepping a lot of stuff so I've decided to go with a cross body design that will be more comfortable to wear. I really like the simple design and excellent quality of the one below, but its a bit out of my price range...sigh.
I'll just have to keep looking. Stay tuned for a post where I buy this and then justify the exorbitant price.
I'll just have to keep looking. Stay tuned for a post where I buy this and then justify the exorbitant price.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Soup Kitchen
Look Mom, I used up those leeks! Last week I made a dinner that needed only one leek and when I called my mom from the grocery store to ask her what a leek was, she told me I should try to find a way to use up the rest of the package of leeks. I love how she never misses an opportunity to help me. So, this week I found a recipe for potato and leek soup; I bought myself an immersion blender and whipped it up the other night for dinner. I love it for several reasons. First, it tastes great; second, it's pretty low-cal and healthy; third, its pretty darn cheap; fourth, it was super easy and quick to prepare; fifth, it lasts in the fridge and so is an easy weeknight dinner for multiple nights. I used the recipe at http://www.davidlebovitz.com.
And yes, that is a box of Charleston Chews on the counter. Am I the only one who HAS to eat something right away after getting home from work or I'll die? The meal that only needed one leek was really awesome as well. I made a Cauliflower and Potato Gratin that I found on this website: http://www.thewednesdaychef.com. It was like homemade mac-and-cheese, but better. The potato and cauliflower are soft and have their own flavor which makes them better than noodles. Have a bit of this with a simple bitter salad for dinner; its a nice combo. We had arugula with oranges and an olive oil and lemon juice dressing. I have to admit though, it was a little bit hard to eat salad with this hot, melty, cheesy option on the other half of the plate. (Note: I cannot put the full website address of the links I give here because I have yet to learn how to make a link work in my blog and if I type the whole address it runs off the page. But if you go to either of those blogs you can look for the recipes posted in early January and you will find them).
And yes, that is a box of Charleston Chews on the counter. Am I the only one who HAS to eat something right away after getting home from work or I'll die? The meal that only needed one leek was really awesome as well. I made a Cauliflower and Potato Gratin that I found on this website: http://www.thewednesdaychef.com. It was like homemade mac-and-cheese, but better. The potato and cauliflower are soft and have their own flavor which makes them better than noodles. Have a bit of this with a simple bitter salad for dinner; its a nice combo. We had arugula with oranges and an olive oil and lemon juice dressing. I have to admit though, it was a little bit hard to eat salad with this hot, melty, cheesy option on the other half of the plate. (Note: I cannot put the full website address of the links I give here because I have yet to learn how to make a link work in my blog and if I type the whole address it runs off the page. But if you go to either of those blogs you can look for the recipes posted in early January and you will find them).
Where I'm Working Now
For my job, I generally work directly out of a client's location rather than our office. Since September I have been downtown at the World Financial Center which is directly adjacent, on the west side, to the World Trade Center site. I take the W train directly from home to Rector street. I kind of like working downtown, even though the commute is a little on the long side--the buildings have a lot of character and the streets are not over-crowded with people.
Here is the view, seen from the north, of the 3 towers of the World Financial Center. I work in the middle tower.
Here is the World Trade Center site as seen from a hallway in the building I work in. A lot of tourists come in to try to take pictures. Even tour groups come through. They are doing construction on what will be Tower 4 right now and you can see the squares where the memorial will be. If you go to http://www.wtc.com/media/images/wtc-construction there are some really good pictures of the construction in progress. There is even a shot of glacial rock formation in the site.
Inside the building I am in, there is this lobby type area called the Winter Garden. It's really quite beautiful there. They hold all sorts of free events, like music and dancing. A lot of people show up and the floor is covered with all the people sitting. There are a lot of stores in the building too...Ann Taylor, Gap, Banana Republic...makes a great escape from work during the day!
This is a shot from on the far side of the Winter Garden. There is a huge patio and we are right on the Hudson River. When it's warm outside, they have BBQ on the patio and a lot of restaurants have outdoor seating. There is a Ciao Bella, and in the few warm days we had when I first started working here, S met me after work and we got gelato and walked up the river a bit. It's really a gorgeous and relatively hidden bit of Manhattan. The spot is called the Esplanade and it has some cool public art, sculptures, great views of the statue of liberty and of all the sailboats docked there, and has a lot of seating for just hanging out next to the river. All the buildings in the background are part of Jersey City. There is also a dock where you can catch a short ferry ride to Jersey City or Times Square and a few other destinations. I would say this is one of my favorite places in the city (in the Summer--too cold in the Winter!).
This is a small public space called Zuccotti Park that I pass on my way to and from work. I love the lights on the trees, but I don't think they will be up too much longer since they were kind of a holiday thing. Its a great spot for people to eat lunch outside. If you can see it, there is a very large, red sculpture in the back of the park. It's a 70 foot tall sculpture by Mark di Suvero, called Joie de Vivre. 
Also next to the park is this famous sculpture: Isamu Noguchi's Red Cube. Sorry the picture is so dark, I think I was blocking the flash with my finger (that's the drawback of having a tiny camera). This guy also did the relief sculpture at the entrance of the Associated Press building in Rockefeller Plaza, called News. Check it out at this awesome Flickr page I just found: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyg/451876063. This person's Flickr page is full of amazing pictures from around New York with great descriptions.
And we are getting closer to home...this is Trinity Church, the back of which is at my Subway stop. This church was built in 1846 and is one of the first examples (and finest examples, according to their website) of Neo-Gothic architecture in the United States. 
This is the graveyard at the side of the Church. Alexander Hamilton was buried here in 1804. There are many other gravestones from the 1700's. If you are interested in that kind of thing, you can find more information, including a detailed map of the churchyard where you can click on each gravestone for details, on their website at www.trinitywallstreet.org and look under the history menu.
Well, that is it. You have all the highlights from my current work location. I'll be sure to update you at my next client site if it's some place good, although that isn't usually my luck (last work locations: Connecticut and Bryn Mawr, PA).
Here is the view, seen from the north, of the 3 towers of the World Financial Center. I work in the middle tower.
Here is the World Trade Center site as seen from a hallway in the building I work in. A lot of tourists come in to try to take pictures. Even tour groups come through. They are doing construction on what will be Tower 4 right now and you can see the squares where the memorial will be. If you go to http://www.wtc.com/media/images/wtc-construction there are some really good pictures of the construction in progress. There is even a shot of glacial rock formation in the site.
Inside the building I am in, there is this lobby type area called the Winter Garden. It's really quite beautiful there. They hold all sorts of free events, like music and dancing. A lot of people show up and the floor is covered with all the people sitting. There are a lot of stores in the building too...Ann Taylor, Gap, Banana Republic...makes a great escape from work during the day!
This is a shot from on the far side of the Winter Garden. There is a huge patio and we are right on the Hudson River. When it's warm outside, they have BBQ on the patio and a lot of restaurants have outdoor seating. There is a Ciao Bella, and in the few warm days we had when I first started working here, S met me after work and we got gelato and walked up the river a bit. It's really a gorgeous and relatively hidden bit of Manhattan. The spot is called the Esplanade and it has some cool public art, sculptures, great views of the statue of liberty and of all the sailboats docked there, and has a lot of seating for just hanging out next to the river. All the buildings in the background are part of Jersey City. There is also a dock where you can catch a short ferry ride to Jersey City or Times Square and a few other destinations. I would say this is one of my favorite places in the city (in the Summer--too cold in the Winter!).
This is a small public space called Zuccotti Park that I pass on my way to and from work. I love the lights on the trees, but I don't think they will be up too much longer since they were kind of a holiday thing. Its a great spot for people to eat lunch outside. If you can see it, there is a very large, red sculpture in the back of the park. It's a 70 foot tall sculpture by Mark di Suvero, called Joie de Vivre. 
Also next to the park is this famous sculpture: Isamu Noguchi's Red Cube. Sorry the picture is so dark, I think I was blocking the flash with my finger (that's the drawback of having a tiny camera). This guy also did the relief sculpture at the entrance of the Associated Press building in Rockefeller Plaza, called News. Check it out at this awesome Flickr page I just found: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyg/451876063. This person's Flickr page is full of amazing pictures from around New York with great descriptions.
And we are getting closer to home...this is Trinity Church, the back of which is at my Subway stop. This church was built in 1846 and is one of the first examples (and finest examples, according to their website) of Neo-Gothic architecture in the United States. 
This is the graveyard at the side of the Church. Alexander Hamilton was buried here in 1804. There are many other gravestones from the 1700's. If you are interested in that kind of thing, you can find more information, including a detailed map of the churchyard where you can click on each gravestone for details, on their website at www.trinitywallstreet.org and look under the history menu.
Well, that is it. You have all the highlights from my current work location. I'll be sure to update you at my next client site if it's some place good, although that isn't usually my luck (last work locations: Connecticut and Bryn Mawr, PA).
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