Showing posts with label new york. Show all posts
Showing posts with label new york. Show all posts

Monday, January 21, 2013

The Feast of San Gennaro


Just over four months ago, we were in New York City. I had been doing some research into things to do in the city, and happened across a very interesting event.

This was one evening that I was particularly excited for. I love carnivals, and markets, and fairs. I love the rush of people, of cultures, of fun things to buy, and delicious things to taste. I love the new experience.  The Bell Buckle Arts and Crafts Fair was one of these. It was an incredible mix of things, people and curiosities. And so, so very different from the Feast of San Gennaro. This Italian spectacle, and that back country bring-anything-you-got-to-market could not have existed in the same universe.

And so it was that we entered the alleyway, welcomed by every possible concoction of red, green and white. And as the sun sunk lower in the sky, the Feast got more and more persuasive, tempting and delightful. Our friend Kimon joined us for the evening, and he and I set out to try as many delicious little snacks before dinner as we could. Each was more delicious than the one before.

Life bleeds out of the streets, just like the lights which make it seem like it may even be day. It feels like a carnival, rolled into a food market, rolled into stalls of souvenirs and make-up. All covered in flags of Italy.

It makes for a strange mix.

Unfortunately our actual dinner that night in Little Italy was a complete and utter disappointment. Husband has done a full review of the events of that particular meal, which you can read here.




Luckily the rest of the Feast was so heart warming, so delightful, and so right up my alley, that I skipped out of Little Italy that night, happy and content.


Sunday, September 30, 2012

The Road Trip Diaries: Woodstock, NY

28 September 2012

We arrived in Woodstock in the rain. Cloudy, drizzling, drippy. It makes the landscape even more appealing. Makes you want to curl up under a blanket, with a big cup of tea, in a cabin, in the woods. Which is exactly what we did.


The cabin is slate grey, big glass windows show only trees. We're surrounded. They reach for the sky, the leaves already starting to turn yellow and amber. For the most part, it's green. Intoxicating green, makes you breathe deep. Fresh, and wet. Two deer walk past the patio as we sit sipping our wine (post-tea, of course).

Beautiful cabins peek through the trees as we drive along the road. Glimpses of miniature white houses, all with triangular charcoal roofs. And then we reach the town. A whole strip of sweet shops and restaurants, all packed with tie-dye, incense, and ageing hippies. 
Woodstock can only be described as quaint. Very, very quaint. 
Dinner was a treat. An amazing restaurant, good wine and perfect company. A weekend away with family friends is the ideal way to begin this adventure. Training wheels for our road trip, as Husband says.
Restaurant in Review:
Cucina
109 Mill Hill Road  
Woodstock, NY 12498
(845) 679-9800


29 September 2012


We're sleeping in the loft room. Slanted wood ceiling, big white bed. Feels a lot like sleeping in a cloud. A big warm cloud. Muted light filters through the paper-like blinds. It's another overcast day. But at least it's stopped raining - for now.


Fresh croissants for breakfast. Big mugs of tea and coffee to beat the chill. We're off to market.

Market was a little bit more like a yard sale. Like a big yard sale. Like a big hippie yard sale. But fun nonetheless. There's trinkets and trash, and everything in-between. I'm sure there's even a few gems in there, but on a road trip budget I put my blinkers on and pretend I can't see any of it.
All wrapped up, it feels like we're heading towards winter at a fast and furious speed. I feel unprepared. My wardrobe feels unprepared. So I momentarily put aside my road trip budget and pop into a nearby shop and buy a squirrel hat. At least now my ears don't feel unprepared.


We then explored the area by car, stopping at a couple of galleries and a very big lake. The water reflects the sky - grey, pensive, bottomless. The green of the fir trees is so dark it looks like you could walk into that forest and never be seen again. It looks like world before man - completely uninhabited, completely forgotten, completely complete.
We stop at 'Bread Alone', a yummy lunch spot. Hello split green pea and ham soup. Creamy, green and delish. 
The rest of the afternoon is more lazy exploring. We happen upon 'Wok and Roll', a Chinese restaurant that features live rock acts. A cover band is performing all the classics. We order some sake, tuck ourselves under the porch and out of the rain, and listen to some rock. The whole audience is made up of us and a family of locals. It makes for an entertaining experience.
 I'm back on the couch, wrapped in a blanket, sipping wine (yes, more wine). Off to dinner soon.

30 September 2012

Sunday morning bliss. A quiet, slow start to the day.

We eat a late brunch. Delicious scrambled eggs, potato mix and rye bread. Once again 'Bread Alone' is a winner. A brisk stroll through the forest, up the mountain, back to the house, pack the car.

And we're off. One weekend in Woodstock done, it's time to hit the road again. Luckily from here it is only a hop and a skip to our next stop over. Good bye Woodstock, thank you for being a wonderful first time.

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Wednesday, August 29, 2012

New York, New York

New York...mmm...New York. What can I say? It's New York. It's almost as if those two words say it all. 

We're staying out in the Queens area - it's nice being in the suburbs, away from the complete crazy of Manhattan. So, we've spent a couple of days exploring the local shops and restaurants, and a little bit of time in the big city itself. We've only been here for a few days and it already feels like a whirlwind. So here's a bit of a recap:

Day One

Arrive. Unpack. Freshen up.

Drive around the neighbourhood with our good friend and host, Kimon. Feast on lip-smackingly good Greek food. Buy groceries. Head home. Crash. Jet lag.
Day Two

Wake up. Relax. Unpack some more. Shower. Hit the streets.

Check the prices at the laundromat. Buy an umbrella for Husband. Get caught in a torrential downpour. Run to the nearest restaurant. It's empty, but it smells good.

Antonio's. Pizza for me, pasta for Husband. Superb.

Hit the streets, post-rain. Walk down the main road. Buy more groceries. Find out about cellphone contracts. Buy metro cards. Walk down to the park, to the pool, to the river.


Walk back to the house.

Evening in. Husband makes us healthy chicken salad. Bliss.

Day Three

Wake up. Relax. Watch 'True Blood'. We're on holiday right?

Quick lunch at home. Hit the streets. Drop off laundry. Catch the bus. To the metro.

Catch the metro. To Manhattan.

Get off the metro, walk up the stairs. Times Square. Walk through Times Square. Everything is so big. And flashy. Wow.


Walk to Central Park. Buy a hot dog. Eat a hot dog. Yummy. Walk through Central Park. Watch some baseball. Walk out of Central Park. Go to the Apple store, and FAO Schwartz. Play the Big Piano.
Walk down 5th Avenue. Gawk at the stores. Get on the metro. Sweltering hot outside. Shivering cold inside. Jet lag.

Get out the metro. Walk through the West Village. Breathe.

Restaurant. Cafe Cluny. I read about it here. Sit. Husband tipsy after one Sweet Julep Tea. We eat. Trout for him, tuna burger for me. Out of this world. Melt in the mouth. I want ten more. Peach pie with buttermilk ice-cream. What? Too good to be true.
Walk to metro. Get on metro. Jet lag. Nearly fall asleep on ride home. 

Restaurants In Review:

Aliada Restaurant
2919 Broadway, Astoria, NY 11106
(718) 932-2240

Antonio's
76-08 21st Ave, East ElmhurstNY 11370
(718) 728-9200

Cafe Cluny
284 West 12th Street, New York, NY 10014
(212) 255-6900