Anti German

Theres a store in the Lower East Side that doesn’t like Germans.

And dogs.

Cowgirl Grace

When I was at home I encouraged my mom to buy Grace this Halloween costume (or a costume just to keep at the toy-filled grandparents house). Either way, its pretty fantastic.


I tried it on for size to no avail.

9 Days in California

I just returned from nine days in California. First was many days of wine tastings with my family. Followed by a bachelorette weekend in San Francisco with a bachelorette who had food sickness (kind of depressing that Marisol was sick, but still a lot of fun)

The highlights were Grace’s story times (this particular night she wore her swim goggles)

Madeline’s always adorable disposition.


Lots of holding handsome Abel.
And the wine. Lots of wine.

Addison Kiley

Last night I met Addison, Eric and Paige’s beautiful daughter. It was my first time to hold a day old baby so it was really special for me.





I even helped Eric change his first diaper.





Roosevelt Hospital has:
1) bad food


2) bad lingerie

3) a room with a view

Free Culture

A few years ago I went almost 3 months in the city without a job. Determined not to change my lifestyle despite my lack of income I learned some really good tricks. My favorite being a gallery opening reception. Free wine and art.

Before I met Kelsey for dinner last night I went to keep the old habit alive at the opening of Paper and China at the Marlborough Gallery in midtown.
Good free wine and good free art.

Bon Appetit

Last night Doug and I went to the Bon Appetit magazine awards dinner. I have no idea how I got invited to that thing. Before the wine kicked in, I was really uncomfortable. It was the who’s who of the culinary world and then us. We had absolutely no place there- but I think that we blended in smoothly.
We ate and drank like gods and met some amazing people like Tom Douglas, who won restaurateur of the year (He has 6 restaurants in Seattle. I cant wait to someday go. He and his wife are charming.) and Jo Luck, the CEO of Heifer International. (a lovely and inspiring woman. I'm honored to have met her.)

Since it was a sit down dinner I was assigned to sit next to Marc Summers (host of Unwrapped on the Food Network). Doug and I couldn’t figure out what he did before that and at one point Marc was telling us about some show that he first got his “break” on Lifetime and Doug was all, “and… after Lifetime… you did……”
“Double Dare.” (It was all I could do to keep from laughing out loud. I may or may not have told him that the pie slide was my favorite) I also can report that Marc 1) has never been to any of the factories/restaurants/plants that Unwrapped features, “and has no desire to” 2) is the fastest eater ever. Disgusting fast 3) doesn’t know that the drinks are placed on your right. Marc Summers stole my wine.

Great to be a Beaver

On Sunday Suzanne and I were thumbing through some old records in a LES shop and she came across this gem. Yes, the name of the song is ‘Its so Great to be a Beaver’. And yes, the song begins with a Bible verse and ends with a “living lesson” about why its great to be a beaver.
$2 well spent, Suzanne!

(I already know that I laugh at the same things that eight year olds laugh at.)

Too Emotional

On Sunday, Rubys was playing an interesting playlist so Suzanne and Mattias made the best of it.

Water Taxi

This weekend Max and I were sitting on the Christopher Street Pier and decided on a spur of the moment Water Taxi ride.


It was wonderful to be a tourist in my own city and see Manhattan from another angle.

Thanks?

Some jerk of a coworker left this book on my desk.

Should I be offended?




I bet "Newsroom Hag" did it.

September 11

I spent last night on my roof with Jamie, wine and a cloudy view of the tribute to September 11.

Domingo’s Grundel

After a few drinks I had the pleasure of naming Marshall Stacks secret beer.




Its not real, but I'm anxious to hear how many people try to order it.

Gossip Girl

I was just telling Jenn that 4 months ago I had never heard of a show called Gossip Girl and now I cant seem to get away from it. Its on every billboard, magazine and it seems that most of my peers Tivo it.
I'm still not interested in watching, but today it was shoved so much in my face that it landed on my front door step (but only until 11PM)

Fashion Week

Jenn and I went to the tents for the Fashion Week shows. Sadly, I had a conflict (my job) so I could only stay for one.
It’s a lot of fun to be in the tents and feel the energy and see all the wonderful clothes.

The Cynthia Steffe show was great, but I'm planning to see if my press pass can take me further throughout the week.

Work Wedding

Usually, I like to keep Church and State separate with my coworkers but this weekend I was happy to make an exception for Kathryn and Scott’s wedding (I used to intern with Kathryn and currently work with Scott).

St. Simons Island is beautiful with its Spanish moss coated trees along the smooth-sanded coast line. (And I got my fill of Southern food for a while)



And the wedding was beautiful of course.

Sweet Nothings

I'm not even close to being an expert at tennis; the scoring is even confusing to me. Thankfully the US Open passes out these little radios that one can wear to get expert commentary and opinion. You can observe the match on your own until you are ready for a knowledgeable voice to whisper into your ear details of what is actually going on. Genius.

Now if only I can get one for daily life.

Honey Deuce

As a girl who loves a cocktail a little too much, the highlight of the US Open wasn’t watching Serena beat Venus Williams or watching hot Nadal play. Rather it was the "signature cocktail”, Honey Deuce (Grey Goose, lemonade and Chambord, with melon balls). I'm easy to please.


Clearly Heidi chose poorly.

Pumpkin Flavored Goods

As Kelsey says, “I pay a lot for mediocre coffee”.
But this morning I did it with a smile since Starbucks announced autumn with all their pumpkin flavored goods (I'm a total sucker for anything pumpkin flavored).
Pumpkin spice latte and a pumpkin muffin. Fatty deliciousness.

Houseboy

I'm expecting a 62 pound piece of furniture to be delivered this evening by UPS. Unfortunately, I have a conflict of interest (I'm going to watch the adorable Rafael Nadal play at the US Open).
I called UPS to warn them that I won’t be there to accept the delivery if they don’t arrive between 6 and 6:30. This is the conversation:
Me: I won’t be there to accept the delivery if they don’t arrive between 6 and 6:30
UPS: Don’t you have a neighbor who can let them in?
Me: Not anyone that will be home at that time.
UPS: Do you have a friend that can come over and wait?
Me: Not at that time.
UPS: Do you have a boyfriend or a landlord or super?
Me: What I need is a houseboy.
UPS: GIIIIIIIRL, you KNOW that would solve so many problems!

Never were truer words spoken.


Pictured is a pair of “houseboy shorts" that American Apparel sells. Yes, I own them. Yes, I wear them. (Sorry, Doug; And Doug borrows them when he comes over. Of course he looks much better in them than this guy)

Labor Day

Heidi and I are (sort of) laboring today.

Screw you, Hanna

This Friday I'm heading to St. Simons Island off the coast of Georgia to my friends Kathryn and Scott’s beach wedding.





This is what The King and Prince Resort currently looks like.







And this is what forecasters are saying about Hanna.




Great.

Sunday Funday

Sunday remains to be my favorite day of the week. Doug and I went to church, had a proper Chinatown brunch, spent the afternoon laying out on Christopher Street Pier, then drank plenty of mojitos.


(For those of you who haven’t been, enter Christopher Street Pier with caution. Its great people watching, but can be a bit on the scary side.)

Park Avenue Art

There are these huge heads in the middle of Park Avenue. I'm not sure why they are there or how long they are staying. But I like them.

Man on Wire

I love movies. I just hate movie cinemas. I have disproportionately long legs, I don’t like noisy-eaters, I don’t like movie-talkers, and I have acute ADD. I prefer the 3 month wait to see something on my couch. So surprisingly I saw 2 movies in a cinema this week. First, Vicky Christina Barcelona with my friend Ramona. Great movie- especially since I went to Barcelona this year. It was fun to see some of the scenes throughout the movie; and of course I'm a Woody Allen fan.
But it was Man on Wire that gets my high recommendation. Karen and I went to see this documentary about the French tight rope artist, Philippe Petite. Fantastic. And a lot of fun watching him walk on a wire between the World Trade Towers on such a big screen.