The Upper East Side Scene

Don't Forget to "Break the Mold" Tonight!

2009-11-21T08:37:00.003-05:00

Tonight and tomorrow on the UES, a group of artists come together to Break the Mold. As Jocelyn detailed in her latest Upper East Side Informer post, Break the Mold is a group of young artists who will be putting on two shows this weekend right here on the Upper East Side. Both shows will feature performances by a variety of musicians, dancers, and actors, all of whom have come together in an effort to maintain integrity in the arts and provide young artists with a venue through which to collaborate with one another and perform for a larger audience.

Says Melinda Marie Heitzman, one of the group's coordinators, "We are taking the power of art seriously by promoting dignity, integrity and quality in the arts through many styles, including rock music, opera singers, classical piano, tap hoofers, musical theater ballads and more."

Fantastic performances, all with a such a worthy goal in mind? Count me in. Here are all the details so that you can Break the Mold this weekend, too:

When: Saturday, November 21 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, November 22 at 2 p.m.
Where: Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, 230 East 90th Street (between 2nd and 3rd).
What: Each show will be an hour long, followed by a reception where you can meet and mingle with the artists.
Who: The shows are open to everyone, including kids and families. There will even be on-site child care provided for the little ones.
How Much: The suggested donation is $8.

The 23rd Annual Goddard Book Fair

2009-11-16T21:02:00.001-05:00

This past weekend, I did something many people are currently dreading. No, I did not visit the dentist; nor did I contract the swine flu. Even though Thanksgiving hasn’t arrived yet, I ventured out to get started on my Christmas shopping.

Now, despite what you may be thinking, I am not a super early shopper determined to beat the crowds by buying my Christmas gifts before I even buy my turkey. While I think Christmas decorations should be safely tucked—and perhaps even locked—away after Halloween at the very earliest, there are benefits to starting your Christmas shopping once November arrives. For one, you avoid the crowds. But most importantly, shopping becomes much more manageable when there are nearly two months before you in which to accomplish it all, rather than just a few days in which to select 25 thoughtful gifts from a pile of picked-over sale items.

And so, in the spirit of making everyone’s holiday shopping a bit more manageable and a lot more enjoyable this year, I’m excited to share with you the information about an annual shopping experience that has continuously proven to be the perfect place to kick off the holiday shopping season: the Goddard Riverside New York Book Fair.

Now in its 23^rd year, the Goddard Book Fair takes place each year the weekend before Thanksgiving, when it sells hugely discounted books—from chick lit to historical fiction, cookbooks to children’s books, and everything in between—as well as cards, CDs, calendars, and other gift items, all of which have been generously donated by publishers. All of the books featured are new, popular titles, and, if that’s not enough motivation for you, all proceeds go to the Goddard Riverside Community Center, an organization on the Upper West Side that provides affordable housing, cultural and recreational opportunities, and community outreach to children, the homeless, and the elderly in the area.

The Goddard Book Fair kicks off this Friday with the Book Bash, a party that features food from local vendors, cocktails, a raffle, and first dibs at the fair’s selection of books. The Book Bash is a major part of the weekend’s fundraising efforts. Click here to purchase tickets in advance.

On Saturday, the fair opens to the public from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and again on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. But get there as early in the weekend as possible, as I’ve learned from experience that the event gets crowded and the best selection of books goes quickly.

Both the Book Bash and the Book Fair take place at the Goddard Riverside Community Center, located at 593 Columbus Avenue at 88^th Street. Click here for more information, and then head over to the UWS this weekend to get started on your shopping—and support a good cause in the process.

Where to Watch the World Series

2009-10-27T22:05:00.003-04:00

It’s been six years since the Yankees have made it to the World Series. And so, when the Yanks step onto their still-new field for Game 1 of the World Series tomorrow night, there will certainly be cause for celebration. If you’re not up for shelling out several hundred dollars for tickets, head over to one of these local sports bars for tasty food, drink specials, and a great spot to cheer on the Yankees.

Jack Russell’s Pub: With eleven high-definition TVs scattered throughout the bar area and ten booths featuring their own programmable screens, Jack Russell’s, on 2^nd between 82^nd and 83^rd, is a prime spot for watching the game. A fireplace and dark mahogany booths create a classy, cozy atmosphere, and menu items like mini burgers, jalapeno poppers, and spicy curly fries make perfect game-time fare. Plus, if you get there a little early, you can catch the $4 happy hour drink specials.

The Bullpen: Located on 1^st between 87^th and 88^th, The Bullpen is a tried and true sports bar, with seven HD flat-screen TVs scattered throughout the bar, plus one giant projection screen. The menu features items like Cuban sliders, a pulled pork sandwich, a chicken finger melt, and hot pastrami on rye. Plus, Wednesday nights feature $10 buckets of Bud and Bud Light and all-you-can-eat mussels for $12.

The Stumble Inn: In addition to a clever name, this bar on the corner of 76^th and 2^nd boasts 14 HDTV plasma screens and three big screen TVs; a menu featuring chili, a variety of wraps, and The Stumble Inn’s famous stuffed burger; and drink specials every day of the week.

Kinsale Tavern: On 3^rd between 93^rd and 94^th, Kinsale Tavern is serious about its sports, its food, and its beer. The Irish-themed menu includes Shepherd’s pie and Irish sausages with mashed potatoes, and there is an extensive list of beer, scotch, whiskey, and bourbon.

Ship of Fools: With 42 TVs and 13 big screens, you won’t miss a second of the game if you watch at Ship of Fools on 2^nd between 82^nd and 83^rd. The bar menu includes standard pub fare like quesadillas, potato skins, and chicken fingers, and the following specials are always available: 32 buffalo wings and a bucket of five Miller Lite bottles for $30; bucket of five Miller Lite or MGD bottles for $16.

Let’s go, Yanks!

Way to Pick 'Em

2009-10-12T21:10:00.002-04:00

Nothing says fall better than a fresh bushel of sweet, crispy, slightly tart, and very juicy apples—especially when you’ve picked them yourself. But you may have noticed that apple trees are a bit difficult to come by here in the city, and it is not advised to eat anything that grows on the trees in Central Park. So does that mean that you have to forego your own freshly-picked apples this season? Not at all. Here are a few places just outside the city where you can pick apples and get into the feel of fall.

If you don’t have a car, try the following:

Outhouse Orchards: Located in North Haven, NY, Outhouse Orchards features Red Delicious, Macintosh, and nearly ten other varieties of apples, plus pumpkin patches, fresh cider and doughnuts, and a farm with goats and chickens. To get there, just take Metro North to the Croton Falls station stop and then cab it to the orchards. For more information, including hours, click here.

Maskers Orchard: If you have little ones in tow, you may want to consider Maskers Orchard in Warwick, NY, where you can visit baby animals, go on wagon and pony rides, and run loose on 200 acres full of ten-plus types of apples just waiting to be picked. If this sounds like your bushel of apples, take the 196 or 197 New Jersey Transit bus from Port Authority to Willowbrook station in Warwick, and then walk the short half-mile to the orchard. For more information, click here.

Fishkill Farms: At Fishkill Farms in Fishkill, NY, you can pick pears, pumpkins, and fifteen types of apples and then return from the orchards for hayrides, live music, barbecues, a hay maze, and an animal farm. Fishkill also features a farm store with fresh produce, eggs, cheese, pies, and doughnuts. On weekends, a café serves breakfast and lunch made fresh from items from the farm. To get there, take Metro North to the Beacon station, then take a cab to the farm. For more information, click here.

If you do have a car:

Applewood Orchards: Just an hour outside the city, Applewood Orchards is located in Warwick, NY and features eight types of apples for picking, plus pumpkin picking, wagon rides, and herb and rose gardens. On weekends, there are puppet shows and live music, and the farm store offers fresh apple cider, jams, pies, honey, flowers, and more. And did I mention that Applewood also has its own winery? For more information, including hours and directions, click here .

Alstede Farms: Located in Chester, NJ, Alstede Farms has plenty of activities for the whole family, with apple picking, pumpkin picking, an ice cream parlor, hay rides, pony rides, a corn maze, a petting zoo, a hay pyramid, a train ride, and more. Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays are Family Fun Days, and there will be a Harvest Moon Hayride and Nighttime Corn Maze on October 16, 17, 23, and 24. Click here for more information.

Sun High Orchards: At Sun High Orchards, located in Randolph, NJ, you can pick your own apples and pumpkins, then experience the warmth of a 200-year-old bee-hive oven, visit a mini-donkey and an alpaca, shop in the General Store, and eat homemade ice cream. For hours and directions, click here.

Happy picking!

Pink Inspiration

2009-09-25T21:01:00.004-04:00

Almost two weeks ago (sorry for the delay, it’s been a busy fall so far!), a flurry of pink took on Central Park. No, there was not a festival featuring gobs of cotton candy, nor did a little girl’s princess party run wild. Sunday, September 13^th was the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, a 5K run/walk to raise funds for the fight against breast cancer.

As you may recall, I took part in this year’s Race for the Cure as part of Team Caroline, a team put together in honor of my friend Caroline, who’s been bravely fighting breast cancer since this past winter. Our team—Caroline included—met in front of the Museum of Natural History on the morning of the race, feeling invigorated by the gorgeous, sunny weather and the huge crowd that had already arrived.

There were over 25,000 people participating in this year’s race, and everyone appeared to be in the best of spirits, bright and energized and excited to be out in support of such a worthy cause. And there was pink everywhere—pink hats, pink shirts, pink spray-painted hair, pink motorcycles, even a pink dog, as everyone did their best to don the color that represents breast cancer awareness.

As for our team, we were thirteen members strong, and we were ready to get started. After introductory remarks from a group of notables that included Mayor Bloomberg, Governor Paterson, Uma Thurman, Cyndi Lauper, Judge Judy, and Stephen Colbert, the runners began, followed by the walkers.

I and several other team members headed out with the runners, while the rest of the team set out with the walkers. As I ran, I couldn’t help but think how amazing it was that so many people had turned out in support of their friends, family members, and the millions of women who have been affected by breast cancer. Particularly inspiring were the breast cancer survivors, shining brightly in pink survivor t-shirts and hats that showed us all that they had fought breast cancer and won. And I found myself getting chills each time I passed a runner or walker wearing a tribute bib in honor of a friend or loved one who was either currently fighting the disease or who had sadly been taken away by it.

But nothing was more moving than crossing the finish line and then cheering Caroline on as she made her way across. Despite the ordeal she’s been through over the past few months, she crossed the finished line looking fit and fabulous and wearing a huge smile on her face—and that was worth more than all the money raised that day.

I’m proud to say that Team Caroline raised over $2,000 toward the fight against breast cancer. But the Race for the Cure isn’t over yet! Donations toward the race are being accepted until October 31, so please click here if you’d like to donate.

Fashion's Night Out

2009-09-11T15:33:00.003-04:00

If you were anywhere in the vicinity of Fifth Avenue last night, you may have noticed that the area was a bit more crowded than usual. Or maybe you noticed that there were glasses of champagne flowing out of nearly every store and live models posing in entryways. What were all the festivities? Last night was Fashion’s Night Out, a global initiative coordinated by Vogue to promote retail and celebrate fashion. And quite a celebration it was, with over 700 retailers and fashion designers in New York taking part—and partying.

From 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., participating retailers were open to the public and essentially hosting a party, with complimentary cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, desserts, DJs, and live models. Some stores offered special discounted prices, while others featured guest appearances by celebrities and designers, encouraging shoppers to come out in droves. And that they did. There were young folks and old folks, super trendy design types and business casual office workers, people in flip-flops and jeans and others in cocktail dresses and suits.

I jumped into the mix right at 6 p.m., when I dropped in on Banana Republic. Upon entering, I was informed that all full-price items would be 25% off until 11 p.m., at which point I bypassed the complimentary wine and appetizers and made a beeline for the new fall collection. There were plenty of beautiful items and great deals to choose from, but I decided to refrain from purchasing anything and instead scooped up a few guacamole-covered hors d’oeuvres before heading to Cartier to meet a friend.

At Cartier, the red carpet was rolled out, and guests were greeted by waiters handing out complimentary Cartier-branded champagne as soon as they entered the front doors. I gladly helped myself to a glass and began to browse the dazzling jewelry collection. In addition to the waiters at the door, more came around offering generous refills, while others carried trays of brightly colored macaroons in flavors like chocolate, passion fruit, caramel, fig, and pistachio. We helped ourselves to several before heading back out to explore what other stores had to offer.

In Fendi, there was more complimentary champagne, as well as a sales associate who encouraged us to try on furs that cost more than my parents’ house. Bottega Veneta was a bit quieter, while Escada felt like a dance club, with bright lights, blaring music, and cocktails.

DeBeers had a wonderful selection of finger sandwiches and miniature desserts, and Prada was packed with shoppers taking pictures of the store’s new wolf-themed display, which I found more frightening than fashionable. Next, we attempted to go to Bergdorf’s but were deterred by a line that wrapped all the way to the park. What kind of desserts were they serving in there? we wondered, before discovering that the line was due not to tasty treats but to Victoria Beckham, who was inside signing autographs.

We skipped that line, opting instead for Tiffany’s, where iced tea, coffee, and lemonade were being served alongside delicious petit fours that looked like the store’s signature blue box. On the third floor was a candy bar, where shoppers could fill their own goodie bags with more robin-egg-blue treats.

Beginning to crash from the sugar high that several glasses of champagne and piles of petite desserts are sure to induce, I decided to call it a night after Tiffany’s. But as I left Fifth Avenue, I could tell that, for many shoppers, the night was just beginning. I have no doubt the celebration continued until 11 p.m.—and possibly long after.

And I hope that the success of this year’s event means that they’ll do it all over again next year.

Courtyards, Period Rooms, and Maelstroms...Oh, My!

2009-08-28T11:11:00.003-04:00

On a recent Friday afternoon, I finally had the opportunity to head over to the Met to see the newly-completed phase two of the American wing renovation: the Charles Engelhard Court and the American Period Rooms.

Two of the Met’s most beloved staples, the Court and Period Rooms have been under construction for nearly two years. They were finally unveiled this May with the promise that the wait was worthwhile, and, after visiting, I wholeheartedly agree.

Upon entering the Engelhard Court, a friend and I were immediately met with the open, light-filled space for which the pavilion has always been so well known. Yet the post-renovation Court looked even brighter and more impressive than ever before. Light streamed into the majestic space via floor-to-ceiling glass paneling, highlighting the Court’s newly-displayed sculptures, stained glass, and sweeping columns.

On the new main level is the beautiful loggia that Louis Comfort Tiffany designed for his Laurelton Hall estate, while a lower level features the front façade of Martin E. Thompson’s Branch Bank of the United States, which was originally located on Wall Street. Surrounding each of these impressive fixtures is a sculpture collection featuring the works of such renowned American sculptors as Augustus Saint-Gaudens, Paul Manship, and Hiram Powers. Daniel Chester French’s famed Milmore and Melvin memorials are now on the main floor, as are two bronze fountains that are part of the pool’s redesign.

Meanwhile, in the balcony galleries, the museum’s collection of American jewelry, glass, ceramics, silver, and more is brilliantly displayed. There is jewelry by Tiffany & Co., including a flowered coral brooch and earring set that I absolutely loved, silver household pieces by Paul Revere, Jr., and over 200 pieces of pottery that have never before been displayed to the public.

As we made our way from the Court to the Period Rooms, I was impressed by how fluid the setup was, with the Court leading into the Period Rooms, which then very naturally led into one another. Twelve rooms have been completely renovated, and a total of nineteen are now on display. Some of my favorites include the Samuel Hart room from 1680 Ipswich, MA, with its low-beamed ceilings and red, canopied bed; the elegant Baltimore Dining Room from 1810 Baltimore, MD; and the Gothic Revival Library from 1859 Newburgh, NY.

Each period room is like a three-dimensional snapshot of a particular time in American history, providing a fascinating glimpse into the lives and styles of the people who once frequented them. I enjoyed slipping into each and imagining what it would have been like to live in, say, the quaint New York Dutch Room, or the stately Verplanck Room. I also enjoyed picking out which pieces of art, furniture, and décor I would like for my own, a task that was greatly aided by the new touch-screen computers installed in each room, providing information about all of the room’s contents at the touch of a button.

After wandering through the Court and Period Rooms for well over an hour, we discovered that it was just after 5 p.m.—the perfect time for a happy hour drink in the Met’s roof garden. We made our way upstairs and found that we were not the only ones who had been lured by the idea of sipping martinis while overlooking Central Park. The sun-soaked roof was packed with visitors eager to welcome in the weekend, to the point where I wasn’t sure if the term Maelstrom referred to the web-like stainless-steel sculpture by Roxy Paine that was sprawled across the roof, or the people who were crowded around, under, and within it. We took a quick walk around the sculpture, gleaming impressively in the early evening sunlight, discovered that there was very little empty space and lots of smokers, and decided to take our happy hour celebration elsewhere.

Despite our disappointment with the roof garden, however, the American Wing left us impressed and inspired—and very eager for the unveiling of the new American Paintings and Sculpture Galleries, scheduled to open in 2011.

Happy Hour...With a Splash of Art

2009-08-07T16:38:00.005-04:00

Looking for a new summer happy hour spot? Then you may want to check out several of the museums in our area.

I know, I know—the words “museum” and “happy hour” are not typically used in the same sentence. Museums are serene spots where one can get lost for hours among priceless pieces of absorbing art; happy hour, meanwhile, tends to be a loud and lively event, one where there is also the risk of getting lost if you’ve absorbed too much alcohol.

But happy hour can be classy and cultural, too, as evidenced by the summer events taking place at the following museums.

Museum of the City of New York: The Speakeasy at 1220 Fifth, otherwise known as the Museum of the City of New York’s Fifth Avenue Terrace, is now open on Wednesdays from 6 to 9 p.m. For $12 ($10 for members), visitors can enjoy the Terrace-cum-Speakeasy, one free drink, and access to the museum’s first-floor galleries. For more information, click here.

Cooper-Hewitt: The National Design Museum on 91st Street shows that it knows how to design a happy hour event with its Cocktails at Cooper-Hewitt event, taking place on summer Fridays through August 14. From 6 to 9 p.m., listen to the sounds of jazz trio Ed Fuqua Group and enjoy cocktails and light fare at the museum’s Arthur Ross Garden and Terrace. Free with museum admission. For more information, click here.

The Guggenheim: On Friday, August 14, the Guggenheim’s new concert series, kicks off with music from The Walkmen, High Places, and the Brooklyn Steppers Marching Band, and readings from author Colson Whitehead, all hosted by comedian Leo Allen. The event will take place in the museum’s rotunda from 8 p.m. to midnight and does require advance ticket purchase ($40 for members, $45 for non-members). For more information, click here.

MoMA: On MoMa Thursday Nights (now through the end of August), the Museum of Modern Art stays open until 8:45 p.m., providing visitors with the opportunity to browse the collection or venture out to the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden for live music, cocktails, and light snacks and desserts (including gelato and sorbetto from New York’s Il Laboratorio del Gelato). Thursdays in August will feature music from China, with performances scheduled for 5:30 and 7 p.m. Free with museum admission. For more information, click here.

The Met: And don’t forget the Met’s Iris and Gerald B. Cantor Roof Garden, where visitors can take in spectacular Manhattan views, cocktails and light snacks, and this summer’s featured work, Maelstrom, a stainless steel sculpture by Roxy Paine. The roof garden is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. For more information, click here.

So go take in the art, the views, and the drinks—just try not to get lost.

Paul McCartney Rocks Citi Field

2009-07-21T17:03:00.004-04:00

All you need is love, said The Beatles. And, at Citi Field on Friday night, there was plenty of love in the air, all directed at legendary Beatles alum Paul McCartney as he took the stage for the first-ever show at the Mets’ brand-new stadium. The historic performance was fitting, as The Beatles played the first show at the Mets’ former home, Shea Stadium, in 1965.

McCartney, looking dapper in a tailored black suit and a pair of skinny black suspenders, was clearly in awe when he came onstage to a frenzy of cheers and whistles from his eager audience. After opening up with the classic “Drive My Car,” McCartney reminisced about that first show at Shea, telling the audience how bad the acoustics were on account of the shaky sound system and the overwhelming screams of even more overwhelmed female fans, and explaining that the fab foursome couldn’t hear what they were playing.

Luckily for the more than 42,000 fans gathered in the audience for McCartney’s performance on Friday—of which I was one, thanks to an early birthday gift from my parents—the acoustics were much improved this time around. “I think we’re going to have fun tonight,” McCartney said before launching into a two-and-a-half hour set that included Beatles classics, favorites from Wings, and highlights from McCartney’s latest album, Electric Arguments.

There were rousing renditions of “Jet,” “Band on the Run,” and “Dance Tonight” and lively versions of “Got to Get You Into My Life,” “Back in the U.S.S.R.,” and “Paperback Writer.” The crowd went crazy for classics like “The Long and Winding Road,” “Eleanor Rigby,” “A Day in the Life” and “Let It Be,” and everyone was blown away—quite literally—by a performance of “Live and Let Die” that featured a surprise eruption of fireworks from behind the stage, followed by the always powerful “Hey Jude.”

McCartney got choked up while playing “Here Today,” a sweet and moving song he wrote after John Lennon’s death, to a photo montage of Lennon on the stage’s main screen. There was also a tribute to George Harrison, during which McCartney played the opening chords of Harrison’s “Something (In the Way She Moves)” on a ukulele that Harrison had given him and explained that Harrison was “really quite good” on the instrument. Both tributes made it evident that McCartney viewed Lennon and Harrison as not just band mates and fellow musicians, but as beloved friends. The most touching dedication of the evening, however, was to McCartney’s late wife, Linda, for whom he played the touching “My Love.”

Throughout the show, McCartney took time to share stories and anecdotes with the audience. He talked about that first performance at Shea, his days as a Beatle, and his memories of his former band mates, as well as other notable artists. In one particularly memorable story, McCartney recounted how, just a few days after the release of The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper album, Jimi Hendrix opened a show at which McCartney and Harrison were in attendance with his own version of “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” which he had rehearsed only minutes before the show began. Hendrix then called Eric Clapton, also in attendance, onstage to tune his guitar. The memory was clearly a fond one for McCartney and, as he shared this story and others, the Citi Field audience put its cheers on hold in reverential silence that made it clear we were all hanging on McCartney’s every word.

The cheering always resumed, though, and at no point was it more thunderous than during McCartney’s dynamic encore. After taking a bow alongside his incredibly talented band, McCartney walked offstage only to return a few minutes later and play for at least another half hour. He did “Day Tripper” and “Lady Madonna” before being joined onstage by surprise guest Billy Joel, whom McCartney had joined last year when Joel played the last show at Shea. The pair played “I Saw Her Standing There,” Joel on the piano and McCartney on guitar, before Joel took a bow and McCartney resumed his encore with “Yesterday,” “Helter Skelter,” “Get Back,” and, finally, “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.” He then graciously thanked his band, his crew, and his audience before exiting the stage one last time to an explosion of red, white, and blue confetti that flurried throughout the stadium.

And his audience left Citi Field amazed, astounded, and honored to have been part of such an historic event and impressed, not only with McCartney’s skill, but with his kind, down-to-earth demeanor and affable stage presence.

Needless to say, we were all glad for the advancements in sound system technology that have been made since that first show at Shea.

Racing for the Cure

2009-07-07T13:08:00.004-04:00

On Sunday, September 13, I’m going for a run in the park. Why have I planned this so far in advance? you may be wondering. Because this won’t be just any run—it will be a race. A Race for the Cure, to be exact.

This September will mark the 26th year that the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure has brought thousands of people together to raise funds in support of the fight against breast cancer. A series of 5K run/walks that take place all over the world, the Race for the Cure is the largest event of its kind, with over one million participants since 2005 alone. This year, the Komen NYC Race for the Cure will take place on September 13 in Central Park, raising money to fund national breast cancer research programs and breast health services in New York City, as well as on Long Island and in Westchester and Rockland counties. And I’ll be participating as part of the phenomenal Team Caroline.

This past February, my good friend Caroline was diagnosed with breast cancer. A healthy and vibrant 28-year-old, Caroline was caught completely off-guard by her diagnosis. Yet she has taken it, not just in stride, but in courageous, awe-inspiring leaps, tackling treatment with grace, wit, and an outlook so positive it rivals most healthy persons’. She has even been keeping a blog—Comedy, Class, and Chemo—where she’s been documenting her treatment in hilarious and heartrending detail.

Just last week, she finished her very last chemo treatment (hooray!), and so a group of us have put together Team Caroline and will be taking on the Race for the Cure in her honor—with her right there with us, as she’ll be participating, too.

If you’d like to participate in this year’s Race for the Cure, there is still plenty of time to register. In fact, if you register before July 15, you’ll save $5 on your registration fee ($25 before the 15th, $30 after). There is no minimum fundraising requirement, and you can sign up as a team or as an individual. And, if you’ll be out of town on the 13th or just don’t think you’ll be able to get out of bed in time for the 9:00 am start time, you can even sign up to Sleep in for the Cure. Click here for more information and to register.

In the meantime, if you’d like to support me and Team Caroline as we prepare for race day, you can do so by clicking here to donate or to join our team.

I hope to see you on race day!

Deep in the Heart of Texas

2009-06-23T20:45:00.005-04:00

Last weekend, I took off for a long weekend trip, not to the Hamptons or the Jersey shore or any of the other typical get-out-of-the-city-for-the-weekend jaunts that one is likely to hear about now that we’re well into the post-Memorial Day summer season. Instead of hopping on the Hamptons Jitney or the Garden State Parkway, I hopped on a plane to Texas.

Now, the great state of Texas is not necessarily the first place that comes to mind when considering a long weekend—but, after my visit, I’m convinced that it should be. The destination of this particular long weekend was San Antonio, the city in south Texas known for its Mexican heritage, its restaurant-riddled River Walk, and—who can forget?—the Alamo.

When I landed in San Antonio, I received a warm greeting from the locals and an even warmer greeting from the weather. Though it was only early afternoon, temperatures were already in the mid-80s and were expected to climb to 100 later in the day, a welcome respite from the chilly and rainy weather that has plagued New York this spring. I happily shed the sweater I had been wearing on the plane and headed to San Antonio’s downtown area, where I checked into the historic Gunter Hotel before setting out to explore the area.

As I mentioned, one of San Antonio’s most well-known attractions is the River Walk, and for good reason. The River Walk consists of a series of walkways that run along both sides of the San Antonio River one level below the city’s main streets. Connected by footbridges and open only to pedestrians, the River Walk is a picturesque slice of San Antonio, with lush flowering plants dotting the winding paths and towering trees reaching across the lazy river, giving the area a quaint, almost Mediterranean feel in spots. The River Walk is home to dozens of restaurants, bars, and shops, making it popular among tourists and locals alike and the perfect place for outdoor dining—especially if you’re in the mood for Tex-Mex and margaritas, which I certainly was.

While some might tire of Mexican food after a few days, that problem does not apply to me. Over the course of the weekend, I had Grand Marnier margaritas and sizzling fajitas on an upstairs balcony at Café Ole, a River Walk staple whose claim to fame is—no surprise here—margaritas and fajitas. I munched on chips and salsa at most every meal. And I had more margaritas and amazing enchiladas at Mi Tierra, a restaurant/bakery/café in downtown San Antonio that is open 24 hours and features a tequila bar and a display case full of tantalizing Mexican treats, including pastries, sweet breads, and heaps of assorted cookies.

In between eating and strolling the River Walk, we managed to squeeze in a road trip to Austin. Only an hour away from San Antonio, the state capital is a lively city with a vibrant music scene and a hip country feel. Austin also boasts a gorgeous capitol building, and last weekend it featured some sort of biker fest, with gleaming, muscled-up motorcycles and their very colorful riders all over the downtown area. Or maybe that was just typical Austin.

Surrounding San Antonio and Austin is the Texas Hill Country, which is full not only of cattle ranches and family farms, but of crops of wineries as well. On the way back to San Antonio, we first stopped at a farm stand to sample some homemade peach cobbler. Heaped on a paper plate and topped with a large dollop of vanilla ice cream, it was rich and gooey and utterly delicious. Our fingers still a bit sticky, we then managed to visit two or three wineries to do some tasting. There were Reislings and Chenin Blancs, Muscats and Merlots, which we sampled to the backdrop of the rolling Texas hills and sun-drenched fields. We spotted plenty of cattle and various other forms of livestock, and even sipped glasses of wine while spying on a nearby family of cows.

Back in San Antonio, the sun-soaked days gave way to warm, breezy nights, and the sounds of live jazz and roaming mariachi bands brought the River Walk to life. Each night we strolled up and down the meandering walkway before stopping for drinks and jazz at the legendary Jim Cullum’s Landing, founded in 1963 by—you guessed it—jazz great Jim Cullum. It was the perfect way to end a day full of sun, sightseeing, and lots and lots of food.

And Texas, from the San Antonio River Walk and the Hill Country wineries to the bustling streets of Austin and the welcoming heat, proved the perfect way to get away for a weekend—or maybe even longer.

Summer in the Park

2009-06-10T14:01:00.005-04:00

Summer is just around the corner, and that means that a slew of fabulous events are right around the corner as well—literally and figuratively—as another season of concerts, comedy shows, orchestra, opera, and, of course, Shakespeare is about to kick off in Central Park. So pack a picnic, grab a blanket, and funnel your favorite bottle of Riesling into a thermos, then head over to the park to check out these fantastic—and, for the most part, free—events.

SummerStage
The 20th anniversary of Central Park’s SummerStage festival kicks off this Friday, June 12 at 8pm with a performance by singer and songwriter Josh Ritter, who will be accompanied by the New York Pops. Here are some more of this season’s highlights:

June 17 at 7:30pm - Readings from bestselling authors Wally Lamb and Zöe Heller
June 19 at 8pm – Comedy night with Gabriel Iglesias and Pablo Francisco
June 25 at 5pm – Reggae with 311, Ziggy Marley, and The Expendables
July 8 at 7pm – Argentinian and Brazilian artists Juana Molina, Curumin, and El G
July 9 at 5:30pm – The unique beatbox sounds of Matisyahu with Umphrey’s McGee
July 13 at 8pm – The Metropolitan Opera’s Summer Recital
July 18 at 3pm – Hip-hop with Q-Tip, Chester French, Little Dragon, and Benji B
August 1 at 7pm – The acoustic sounds of M. Ward and Nels Cline, with Yuka Honda and Dougie Bowne
August 3 at 7:30pm – A music and film screening with Béla Fleck and Toumani Diabaté
August 14 at 8pm – An evening of dance with the Wheeldon Company and musical guest Martha Wainwright
August 16 at 3pm – Alternative rockers Dinosaur Jr., The Walkmen, and Saviours

SummerStage events are held at Rumsey Playfield, accessible by the 69th Street and 5th Avenue entrance to the park. While most events are free, some serve as benefit concerts for the season and do require advance tickets. Click here for more information and the full lineup.

The New York Philharmonic
On Friday, July 17 at 8pm, the renowned New York Philharmonic will perform its annual free summer concert at the Great Lawn bandshell, which is easily accessible by the 5th Avenue entrance to the park between 85th and 86th streets. If you’d like seats near the stage, plan to arrive at least two hours in advance. And be sure to stay until the very end, as a fireworks show will follow the performance.

Naumburg Orchestral Concerts
Located just south of Bethesda Terrace, the Naumburg Bandshell has hosted such legendary performers as Duke Ellington, The Grateful Dead, Irving Berlin, and John Phillip Sousa. This summer the historic spot will host another season of free classical music concerts, all featuring young composers and conductors in an effort to promote new talent. Here’s the lineup:

June 23: The Knights orchestral group with acclaimed violinist Lara St. John Lodin
July 7: The Naumburg Orchestra featuring clarinet soloist Alexander Fiterstein
July 21: The Jupiter Symphony Chamber players featuring clarinet player Vadim Lando and cellist David Requiro
August 4: Grammy-nominated wind quintet Imani Winds

All performances begin at 7:30pm. For more information, click here.

Shakespeare in the Park
Another season of a favorite Central Park event kicks off tonight with the premiere of the legendary bard’s Twelfth Night, starring Anne Hathaway. Twelfth Night runs through July 12, and then Euripedes’ The Bacchae begins August 11 and runs through August 30. Performances are Tuesdays through Sundays at 8pm. Tickets are free and can be obtained starting at 1pm on the day of the performance at the Delacorte Theater, or online via a virtual ticket line. For more information, click here.

Happy summer!

Crumbs Leaves No Crumbs

2009-05-29T11:48:00.002-04:00

A few weeks ago, I was charged with bringing dessert to a friend’s dinner party. Though I love to bake, I didn’t have time this particular Saturday afternoon to pull out my mixing bowls and cookie sheets to whip something up. And so I knew exactly where to go: Crumbs.

Crumbs Bakeshop first began serving their Signature cupcakes in 2003, when their Upper West Side location opened. About four years later, I tried my first Crumbs cupcake, and, as I sank my teeth into a soft and spongy chunk of yellow cake topped with a heavenly smear of buttercream frosting, I was hooked.

Now, six years after the original Crumbs opened its doors, I must not be the only one who is hooked, because Crumbs currently has ten locations here in the city—and the franchise is growing like, well, someone who has been chowing down on way too many cupcakes.

At last count, there were three Crumbs Bakeshops on Long Island, two in Connecticut, two in New Jersey, and five on the West Coast, all in and around Los Angeles. Traveling coast to coast like a celebrity who has just hit it big, these are some popular cupcakes—and rightly so.

On this particular Saturday, I made a trip to Crumbs, eager to pick out an assortment of cupcakes to share with friends, some of whom had never tried the rich and creamy deliciousness that is Crumbs before. I walked up to 78th and 3rd—and my jaw dropped in horror when I saw that Crumbs’ Upper East Side location had been boarded up. Utterly disappointed, I was on the verge of shedding tears when I happened to notice a little handmade sign with an arrow pointing to the left. I followed the arrow and, lo and behold, there was a brand new Crumbs just a few doors down.

After shedding tears of joy and relief, I pulled myself together and entered the new Crumbs. The bigger and brighter space lit up the cupcakes, cookies, and other treats, allowing them to be displayed in all their glory. It also afforded room for twice as many tables up front, where patrons can enjoy their treats over Crumbs’ various coffee and tea concoctions. I made my way to the counter and began the arduous task of deciding which of Crumbs’ many cupcakes to choose.

The Crumbs Signature cupcake is a mound of moist cake topped with creamy icing in a variety of lively colors and flavors. At $3.75, it is bigger than my fist (and probably the fists of people who are much larger than me, as well) and the perfect size for sharing—though you’ll surely be tempted to eat it all yourself. My original plan was to purchase three or four of these, to be shared between five people. But when faced with all of Crumbs’ marvelous flavors, I began to second-guess myself.

There was chocolate, vanilla, chocolate-covered strawberry, devil dog, fluffernutter, cappuccino, cookie dough, peanut butter cup, red velvet, vanilla coconut—the possibilities were really endless. My head spinning—and my stomach growling quite loudly—I tore myself away from the oh-so-enticing display counter and instead selected a package of assorted minis.

With twelve pint-sized cupcakes, including a black-and-white, a red velvet, a vanilla coconut, an Oreo cookie, and classic chocolate and vanilla, the pre-assembled pack looked to be the perfect size for our party of five to share—and it was. It was also the hit of the dinner party. After we had all dug in, cutting the tiny cupcakes into quarters so we could each taste a bit of every one, there was not a single crumb left.

But five very happy Crumbs fans remained.

From UES Brasseries to LES Bistros

2009-05-18T22:08:00.003-04:00

This past Friday, a group of friends and I decided to venture down to the Lower East Side to check out something called the 2009 Rooftop Films Summer Series. Held on a rooftop either in the LES or Brooklyn, where viewers are invited to get cozy with blankets and picnic fare, Rooftop Films screens a variety of new and independent films, both feature-length and shorts, on a weekly basis from May through September. The event also features live music before the screening, as well as an open bar after. The best part? Tickets are only $9. For that price, we thought Rooftop Films sounded well-worth checking out.

Before heading downtown, I met my friend Ruth at Brasserie 360, the Parisian-themed bar and grill on the corner of 60th and 3rd recognizable for its dark wood exterior and upstairs balcony, as well as its location across the street from both Bloomingdale’s and Dylan’s Candy Bar. Since it was a warm and sunny spring afternoon, we were hoping to sit at one of the front tables, near Brasserie’s wide windows that open out onto the sidewalk. We made our request to the hostess, but it was subsequently denied when we revealed that we were there only for drinks, not dinner, and we instead seated ourselves at the long oaken bar.

Though we weren’t sitting by the windows, we were still able to enjoy the gorgeous afternoon from the bar, as the sun came streaming in and brightened the charming, European-style space. We also enjoyed happy hour prices, which generously allowed us to order glasses of wine from Brasserie’s rather extensive list for just $6 each. While we didn’t order food, we did spy a few dishes that looked quite tasty—including a basket of fries that were mistakenly placed in front of us for just a minute before being tauntingly taken to their proper patrons—and we agreed that we would have to return to Brasserie again for both happy hour specials and dinner.

When we finished our glasses of wine, we hopped on the 6 train to meet friends at the Rooftop Films location, where we were planning to purchase tickets and then pick up sandwiches and snacks for our picnic. We arrived right at 7pm, the time when tickets would be on sale at the door, to find that quite a few people had the same idea as we did. The ticket line stretched around the block, making it clear that we should have ordered tickets online beforehand—or arrived much earlier. Within a few minutes, an announcement was made that all tickets were sold out, but that there might be a few spots available at 8pm, when the doors were scheduled to open, if some advance ticket purchasers didn’t show up.

Rather than wait around for an hour on the slim chance that a bunch of people wouldn’t show, we decided to take the opportunity to explore the Lower East Side, an area I’m not particularly familiar with—and one that tends to leave me a bit turned around every time I visit, what with its lack of numbered streets and all. We wandered around for a while, browsing the area’s slew of quaint and eclectic restaurants, and, suddenly hit with a craving for Spanish food, we wound up at Paladar, the self-described Pan-Latino restaurant on Ludlow.

With bright Latin-themed décor and a lively and original menu, Paladar cured us of any disappointment that may have been lingering from our failure to get into Rooftop Films. A pitcher of sangria, several margaritas, and an assortment of tapas-like dishes later, we were quite pleased that our night hadn’t turned out exactly as we had planned. Instead of a sampling of short films, we instead sampled chicken empanadas, Venezuelan corn cakes topped with tomato and chorizo, swordfish tacos with avocado and mango salsa, wild mushroom quesadillas, and pork spare ribs with guava barbecue sauce. The food was delicious, the service excellent, and the prices very reasonable.

While we do plan to try Rooftop Films another time, it’s reassuring to know that, should we not make it in once again, we have plenty of other options.

Mother's Day Brunch

2009-05-08T16:47:00.003-04:00

This Sunday is Mother’s Day, a holiday that always poses a bit of a gift-giving challenge. When I was little, Mother’s Day gifts were typically made in school and featured pieces of dried pasta that were spray-painted pink and glued to a picture frame made out of popsicle sticks, or handprints set on paper with fingerpaints and signed with a name, a date, and an “I Love You, Mom.” These gifts might not have been very practical, but they came from the heart and were pretty darn cute, if I do say so myself.

As I’ve gotten older, however, gifts made from miscellaneous household items no longer seem appropriate, and I don’t know that mom would find as much charm in a 28-year-old’s fingerpainting skills as she did in an 8-year-old’s. But somehow it also doesn’t seem right to give her a regular old grownup gift. “Thanks for reading to me, wiping my nose, feeding me, clothing me, and shaping my character for countless years—here’s a sweater” doesn’t exactly sound very grateful. And what purpose is a gift that doesn’t show our mothers just how thankful and appreciative we are?

This Mother’s Day, instead of trying to figure out whether your mom would prefer flowers, a sweater, or a bottle of perfume, give her what she would most appreciate—time spent together. And what better way to spend time together on Mother’s Day than at a lovely Sunday brunch? Here are a few spots that are sure to please both you and your mom this Mother’s Day.

Alice’s Tea Cup: With its whimsical Alice in Wonderland murals, delectable menu, and ample amounts of fairy dust, Alice’s Tea Cup is a mother-daughter dream come true. Treat your mom to tea and scones, crepes, eggs Florentine, smoked salmon, and maybe even a pair of fairy wings at one of Alice’s two UES locations.

David Burke Townhouse: Formerly davidburke & donatella, the upscale restaurant on 61st between Park and Lexington, the newly-renamed David Burke Townhouse is featuring a posh prix-fixe Mother’s Day brunch. For $48 per person, you and mom can enjoy a three-course meal featuring dishes like a pretzel-crusted crabcake, a lobster scramble, a chocolate-chip pancake sundae, and something intriguingly called a cheesecake-lollipop tree. Call 212-813-2121 for reservations.

Fred’s at Barney’s: Head to Barney’s for a little shopping, followed by brunch at Fred’s. Featuring huevos rancheros, steak and eggs, and challah French toast, among many other delicious-sounding items, Fred’s is sure to satisfy.

One83: On 1st Ave. between 83rd and 84th Streets, One83 offers a breezy back deck and a classically ambient interior, where you can indulge in an extensive brunch menu that features dishes like smoked salmon eggs benedict, Tahitian vanilla French toast, chicken Milanese, and rigatoni with yellowfin tuna meatballs and broccoli rabe. Oh, yes, and a complimentary mimosa, bellini, or bloody mary. Need I say more?

JoJo: The Jean-Georges creation on 64th between 3rd and Lexington is currently featuring a brunch special well-worth taking advantage of. For $24.07, you can choose two small plates from a list of dishes that includes a warm asparagus salad, spinach ricotta ravioli, buttermilk pancakes, and a goat cheese frittata, plus a dessert. Sounds like a deliciously good deal to me!

Sarabeth’s: No mention of brunch would be complete without a mention of Sarabeth’s, the restaurant on 92nd and Madison known for its heavenly—and very generous—brunch portions. Porridge, omelettes, frittatas, burritos, salads, and an assortment of “sweet breakfasts” like lemon and ricotta pancakes, pumpkin waffles, and cheese blintzes are all eye-catching items on the substantial menu. Top one off with a milkshake or an ice cream float, and you and mom and sure to go home happy.

So forget the sweaters this Mother's Day and take your mom to brunch. It's a treat you'll both be sure to enjoy!

And you could toss in a handmade popsicle stick frame, too. Just for old time's sake.

Springing into a Museum Near You

2009-04-26T21:59:00.002-04:00

In addition to warmer weather, blooming flowers, and the occasional allergy, spring also brings a batch of fresh new exhibits to the museums in our area. Here are a few of the highlights:

The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion opens May 6 in the Met’s Tisch Galleries. Sponsored by Marc Jacobs, the exhibit will explore the relationship between high fashion and the twentieth-century models who have influenced it. Featuring both haute couture and ready-to-wear pieces alongside photos and video clips, this is sure to be a fascinating—and quite stylish—collection.

The New American Wing: Also at the Met, part two of the brand-new American Wing will be opening on May 19. In the second phase of a major renovation, the Charles Engelhard Court and the Period Rooms have been upgraded to better display the many sculptures, paintings, stained-glass windows, and other pieces of classic American art they house. The Court will now have new glass barrier walls and a mezzanine that adds over 3,000 square feet of space, while the period rooms will be more spacious and easier to access.

Intervals: Now through July, the Guggenheim has invited a group of contemporary artists to take part in its “Intervals” exhibition, a series of solo presentations featuring works that “propose an alternative notion of temporal experience as a shifting and unquantifiable state.” I’m not quite sure what this means, but, thanks to the Guggenheim, it’s sure to be intriguing.

2009 Student Scholarship: Starting May 6, the Society of Illustrators will be featuring the works of over one hundred of today’s top illustration students from colleges all over the country. Chosen by a group of professional illustrators and art directors, these works are sure to be insightful, inspiring, and extremely skilled. And who knows—you just may discover your new favorite artist.

Mannahatta/Manhattan: A Natural History of New York City: Starting May 20, New Yorkers can explore the history of the island they now call home in a new exhibit at the Museum of the City of New York. "Mannahatta/Manhattan" will use historical artifacts, maps, and multi-media to show the lush forests, rolling hills, wetlands and wildlife that Henry Hudson would have met with when he first explored the island of Manhattan.

Fashioning Felt: I bet you didn’t know that felt—that fabric you used during arts and crafts hour in kindergarten—is currently being used in everything from chairs to carpeting to designer clothing. You can learn all about the new uses of this versatile material in fashion, architecture, furniture design, and more in an exhibit on display at Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum now through September.

Extreme Mammals: The Biggest, Smallest, and Most Amazing Mammals of All Time: What creature had the strongest bite? The biggest claws? Or the fastest legs? Find out in this new and exciting exhibit that opens at the Museum of Natural History on May 16.

Portraits, Pastels, Prints: Whistler in The Frick Collection: Opening June 2 at the Frick is a special exhibition dedicated to James Abbott McNeill Whistler. The museum will be displaying four of Whistler’s full-length portraits, including his “Harmony in Pink and Grey: Portrait of Lady Meux,” alongside his masterful seascape, “Symphony in Grey and Green: The Ocean,” as well as several pastels and etchings, none of which have been displayed together in over twenty years.

Be sure to stop in to explore these fascinating new exhibits as you’re out and about this spring.

Walkers, Beware!

2009-04-17T17:01:00.003-04:00

There is perhaps nothing that draws New Yorkers outdoors in larger numbers than the first hint of a sunny spring day after a long and chilly winter. As soon as the city starts to thaw, brightly-colored coats begin to populate the streets, Frisbee-toting twenty-somethings congregate in Central Park, and pedicured toes can be seen peeping out of pumps—even if it’s only 50 degrees and said toes go numb within ten minutes of leaving the house. Tired of being cooped up indoors under layers of fleece, New Yorkers jump on the first opportunity to break out of their winter duds—and their apartments. And, with sunny skies and highs in the 70s expected this weekend, there are sure to be plenty of New Yorkers pouring outdoors.

While it’s always enlivening to see so many people celebrating the onset of spring, the warmer weather does pose a bit of a challenge in that it creates more of a crowd on the city’s already-crowded streets. Now, when the crowd is moving along in sunglass-sporting swiftness, there’s not a problem. But that’s not typically the case, as the city is plagued with several kinds of walkers who, though they may be sporting sunglasses, are not at all swift. Oblivious, preoccupied, or just plain slow, they are the cause of troublesome traffic jams on many a city sidewalk, and they often pose the risk of a dangerous collision that can involve crushing the afore-mentioned toes, or worse.

Here, for everyone’s springtime safety, is a list of such walkers to watch out for.

The Zig-Zagger: The Zig-Zagger might walk at an efficient pace, but her route is anything but, and there is nothing quite so frustrating as walking behind her. She starts in the middle of the sidewalk. When you try to pass her on the right, she goes right., nearly driving you into the corner bodega’s vegetable stand. When you try to pass her on the left, she goes left, and you almost trip over a planter. Right, then left again. Your best bet is typically to hop off the sidewalk and sprint your way around her. Just watch out for oncoming traffic.

The Stopper: Perhaps the most dangerous walker of all, the Stopper moves along at an impressive pace and appears to be helping rather than hindering the sidewalk’s flow of traffic. But then he comes to an abrupt halt, causing you—and the three or four people behind you—to smash into him, or collide off someone else in a last-ditch effort to swerve around him. The Stopper can cause scuffed shoes, squashed groceries, and even broken noses, depending on just how short of a stop he comes to.

The Stander: Oblivious to the fact that there are people on the street other than her, the Stander stops sidewalk traffic by refusing to move at all. She might be checking a street sign or a cell phone; or she could be waiting for a friend or the next bus. Whatever the circumstances, she for some reason prefers to stand right in the middle of the sidewalk—or right on a corner, where you’ll typically encounter her just as the “stop” hand begins to flash and you’re trying to catch the bus across the street—forcing pedestrian traffic to slow down and merge in order to avoid bumping into her. Of course, when she inevitably does get bumped, she shoots dirty looks and “Watch where you’re going”s in all directions. Keep your eyes peeled and try to spot her early enough to avoid her. Then again, a harmless bump or two might encourage her to stand somewhere else.

The Techie: Consumed with his cell phone, Blackberry, or iPod, the Techie is too busy texting, messaging, and attempting to communicate with Russian space stations to pay attention to where he’s going. He may behave as a Stopper, a Zig-Zagger, or a Stander, but it’s more likely that he’ll just crash into you—and then keep right on going without looking up from his nifty handheld device.

The Smoker: Though he usually moves pretty quickly, most likely because of the nicotine coursing through his limbs, the Smoker is easily the worst walker to get stuck behind. He looks and smells like a smokestack, and his trail of smoke will leave you sucking fumes or holding your breath until you’re blue in the face—neither of which are particularly pleasant ways to spend a spring afternoon. When you encounter a Smoker, speed up and sprint around him as quickly as you can—preferably while using exaggerated gestures to wave away his smoke, letting him know just how obnoxious it is.

Grandma and Grandpa: The little old couple out for a stroll almost always finds themselves stuck in the middle of a busy thoroughfare when a quiet side street would be safer for everyone involved. The Grandma is usually in the lead, and she becomes a Stander when she turns around to check on the Grandpa, who’s usually shuffling along behind. Too cute to get mad at, they may just need an arm to hold onto as they’re ushered to a less congested route.

Kids Gone Wild: Sometimes they’re running full force right at your shins, while others they’re barreling down the street on a bike or scooter they haven’t yet learned to stop, their fiberglass helmets at the perfect level to take out your kneecaps. Whatever their method of transportation, kids who move faster than their parents can pop out from any direction—and cause serious damage to your lower extremities. Stay alert, or start wearing kneepads on a regular basis. And try to catch any speedy kids that look like they’re headed toward a busy intersection.

The Biker: Though not a walker, the biker poses just as much of a threat to pedestrians as anyone else on this list. He may be a deliveryman more concerned with delivering his pad Thai on time than taking out innocent bystanders, or a cyclist too afraid to ride in the city streets on his way to the park. Where did he come from? No one knows. But he suddenly appears on the sidewalk—bicycle and all—forcing pedestrians to jump out of his way (because he of course doesn’t think of slowing down). All you can do is hope that he rings his bell first.

The Sightseer: This one goes without saying, but no rundown of troublesome walkers would be complete without mention of the tourist who risks injuring oncoming pedestrians with pointing fingers, outstretched maps, and a surge of camera flashes. Like the Techie, the Sightseer can be a Stopper, a Stander, or a Zig-Zagger. But instead of an electronic device, he is usually absorbed with souvenirs and subway maps. If he asks you for directions, be kind and help him out. Your fellow pedestrians will be grateful.

Enjoy the spring weather this weekend, and walk safely!

Vespa: A Tried and True Favorite

2009-04-03T21:30:00.004-04:00

When it comes to restaurants, I try to frequent places I’ve never been rather than returning to the same tried and true favorites over and over again. But favorites are favorites for a reason, and when a restaurant has consistently proven itself, sometimes you just have to go back—again and again. Such was the mentality that prompted a recent visit to Vespa, my favorite UES Italian spot.

Vespa greets visitors with an inviting bar and an eclectic European vibe. On the restaurant’s left side, ambient red lighting and exposed brick walls surround a cozy, café-style set-up; in a room on the right, creamy white walls decorated with classy framed prints reflect flickering candlelight as visitors peruse an extensive menu that changes seasonally.

On this most recent visit, Lauren and I were seated on Vespa’s right (or creamy white) side and greeted by a server with a charming Italian accent and a fresh basket of warm and crispy bread. We ordered glasses of wine and, though both rather familiar with the menu, we took a look at our options.

Of course, with any favorite restaurant come favorite dishes, and I have several at Vespa. One is the thick, doughy gnocchi, which is served with a basil and parsley pesto, gorgonzola cheese, and walnuts—rich, creamy, and delicious. The whole wheat taglierini with a lamb ragu is mouth-wateringly hearty, as is the chicken cacciatore, a chicken dish with sweet sausage, mushrooms, and roasted peppers. I also love the black linguine with shrimp, calamari, spicy tomatoes, green olives, and capers; and then there’s the Atlantic salmon with a harissa-honey glaze and grilled leeks, and the sweet potato and ricotta ravioli with golden raisins and sage butter . . . I think you get the picture.

This time, however, I decided to try something new (surprisingly, there were still a few items on the menu I hadn’t yet tasted), and so I ordered the cavatelli with pancetta, radicchio, pecorino cream, and herbed bread crumbs. When it arrived, I wondered why I had never ordered it before, as it was simply delicious. The cavatelli were cooked to a perfect al dente finish, and the sauce was luscious and creamy, yet at the same time not too rich or heavy.

Meanwhile, Lauren ordered an item from the list of specials: spaghetti squash with shrimp in a tomato sauce. A unique entrée, the spaghetti squash looked and tasted like actual spaghetti, twirling right around my fork as I sampled a bite. Light, fresh, and topped with large, succulent shrimp, the dish was another excellent choice, and Lauren and I both added two more selections to our list of Vespa favorites.

Despite nearly cleaning our plates, we did have a bit of room left for dessert, and so we decided to share a slice of cheesecake topped with a scoop of raspberry gelato. Smooth and velvety yet still light and almost fluffy, the ricotta-based cheesecake was amazing, and the gelato complemented it perfectly.

Now stuffed—and happily so—we left Vespa having experienced the best of both worlds: new and delicious dishes alongside the comfort of an old friend.

An Observant Eye on a Friday Evening

2009-03-21T13:11:00.002-04:00

After a very hectic week, what better way to unwind than an evening at the Met? Those were my thoughts exactly as I left my office last night and made my way up to the museum, where I could easily have wandered through the vast collection until the 9 p.m. closing time. When I arrived, however, I resisted the urge to drift aimlessly from gallery to gallery, as I actually did have a particular destination in mind. A few weeks prior, I had signed up for the Observant Eye program, and so I headed down to the Carson Family Hall, where I met a group of twenty-five or so young professionals just as eager to explore the museum as I was.

Typically held twice per month, the Observant Eye offers visitors the opportunity to study a work in the museum’s collection with a curator, who chooses one piece of art to discuss over the course of a 90-minute session. I had attended the Observant Eye once before, and so I knew what to expect—or so I thought, until curator Felicia Blum arrived and told us that she was going to mix things up a bit.

After instructing us each to grab a portable stool, Felicia informed us that she was going to break typical Observant Eye protocol. Rather than staying in one location for the entire session, we would be moving around quite a bit as we studied the museum’s collection of period rooms, which she explained were rooms—or portions thereof—that had been reconstructed to match their original state. Some period rooms were completely authentic, featuring the original walls, flooring, ceiling, and décor, while the museum had built others around several original pieces, such as paneling, columns, or archways.

“I hope you have on your walking shoes!” Felicia announced before leading us to our first destination, a cubiculum (or bedroom) from a Roman villa circa 50-40 B.C. Though over 2,000 years old, the room’s original wall frescoes were almost perfectly preserved, allowing Felicia to point out distinctive features such as rich red columns, whimsical green palm fronds, and a bowl of fruit she referred to as the first still-life. She showed us where the resident’s bed would have been placed and described what his window would most likely have looked upon (farm animals), sharing with us a wealth of knowledge—as well as a healthy dose of wit—to which we would not have been privy had we merely visited the display on our own.

After ten minutes or so, we picked up our stools and moved on to the Vélez Blanco patio, a reconstruction of a patio from an early 16th-century Spanish castle. While the walls, floor and ceiling of the room were built by the Met, the patio’s original marble fittings were all reassembled into carefully-crafted archways, columns, windows, and porticos. Felicia gave us the patio’s history, which included a stint in a Park Avenue townhouse, and then pointed out the intricate details adorning each piece of marble, from a pair of dolphins drinking from a fountain at the top of a column to a series of ornate flowers, a variety of gargoyles and lion’s heads to a family coat of arms, enabling us all to envision the patio in its original state.

Our next stop were two French rooms, one a state bedroom from the palace of Louis XIV featuring four embroidered wall hangings that were a gift to the Sun King from one of his assorted mistresses; the other a salon from the era of Louis XVI featuring gilded wall paneling. Felicia pointed out the differences between the two styles, explaining that “early was curly, and late was straight”—meaning that the style predominant during the reign of the earlier Louis was an ornately swirling Baroque, while the later Louis reigned over a straighter Classical style. Felicia also called attention to various symbols throughout the décor, including the four seasons theme, which was repeated in both rooms.

Next, we moved on to a dining room from the English estate Kirtlington Park, built in the mid-1700s and featuring a series of ornate stucco details and moldings. Felicia explained that the stucco designs had been sculpted right onto the room’s warm yellow walls, creating a bright, elegant atmosphere (in which I would not mind hosting a dinner party). She also detailed the elaborate process required to remove the walls from the original estate, which involved cutting beneath the paneling and carefully packing each piece in hay, and pointed out details in the sculptures that included the four seasons (once again), Dionysus, and Bacchante.

Last but not least, we visited a bedroom from the Sagredo Palace in Venice, built in the early 18th-century and decorated with lush, swirling fabrics and gilded furniture. The highlight of the room, however, was a series of at least twenty-five sculpted cherubs adorning the walls and ceiling, which Felicia explained indicated that this would most likely have been a child’s bedroom. She also let us know that this was the room that Claudia and Jamie, the young runaways in E. L. Konigsburg’s children’s classic, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, were said to have spent the night—a fact that I took great pleasure in.

Shortly after 8 p.m., we returned our stools to their closet in the Carson Family Center and thanked Felicia. Her impressive knowledge and signature wit made the experience not only informative and enlightening, but a lot of fun to boot, and I left the Met with a renewed appreciation for both the museum’s holdings and its curators—and with several ideas for my next home-decorating project.

Upcoming Observant Eye sessions will be held on April 3, April 17, May 1, and May 15. All sessions meet from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and are free with museum admission. Email observanteye@metmuseum.org to register.

Spring Break Inspiration

2009-03-14T09:29:00.005-04:00

This past week, I was on spring break. No, I was not in Cancun, partying with college students, nor was I on a cruise to Cozumel, or any of the other typical spring break destinations. I stayed right here in the U.S. and took what ended up being a very last-minute trip to the West coast--San Diego, to be exact. With weather in the low 60s, yet very sunny, it proved to be the perfect escape from March in New York--and the perfect weather for exploring the area's museums, doing a bit of wine-tasting, playing tennis, and going for a several sun-filled runs.

Here, as I'm getting caught up on all that seems to have piled up in my inbox while I was away, are some of the highlights:

Balboa Park

The San Diego Museum of Art

My favorite winery

If you're feeling inspired, you too can get a great deal on a spring break--even a last-minute one--as airfare is amazingly low right now. Take a look at Travelzoo for fabulous package deals, or visit Farecast to compare rates, track fare history, and be advised on the best time to buy.

Happy travels!

An Evening at the Opera

2009-03-02T20:50:00.002-05:00

I have always considered myself rather well-versed in New York City’s artistic culture. I keep track of what exhibits are opening when at nearly all of the city’s major museums (many of which I am lucky enough to live within walking distance of). I visit the Met often and can navigate its permanent collection with the skill of a racecar driver, as well as the speed—even during weekends and holidays, when tourists waving museum maps like flags of surrender seem to outnumber the works on display. I have seen most of the major Broadway shows, as well as several off-Broadway pieces, and I even found a production of Jane Austen in the basement of a church in my neighborhood several years ago (a gem of a discovery). I’ve been to every ballroom from Bowery to Hammerstein, sat in the refined Beacon Theater, and stood in the drafty and imposing Terminal 5. Yet there was one staple of the New York City arts and entertainment scene with which I was not familiar: the Metropolitan Opera. Luckily for me, however, that changed last week.

When my friend Ruth let me know that she had an extra ticket to the opera, I jumped at the opportunity. I didn’t yet know how much the ticket was, when the performance would be, or even what opera I’d be seeing—I just knew that I had been wanting to go to the opera for quite some time, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity. The thought of the exquisite costumes, the sweeping arias, and the elegance of Lincoln Center were enough to sell me on the idea even before I found out that the ticket was only $15 (thanks to a student discount). And so, last Thursday evening, I found myself walking across Lincoln Center’s distinctive courtyard, on my way to see the Met’s performance of Puccini’s La Rondine.

“Hurry! Hurry!” Ruth and I heard as we strolled up to the front entrance, taking our time to admire the structure’s grand architecture. We noticed that, all around us, people were rushing—some even running—toward the glass entrance doors.

“Oh, gosh—it’s almost eight, and I’m pretty sure they don’t let you in until intermission if you arrive late,” Ruth said, explaining a well-known opera rule of which we were suddenly aware. We began to scramble toward the doors along with everyone else, flashing our tickets on the way in before climbing a majestic staircase . . . and another . . . and one more.

A bit out of breath, we found our way to our seats, which, despite being in nearly the last row of the theater’s highest tier, afforded us an ample view of the stage—as well as of the theater itself. With plush seating, ornately-detailed woodwork, rows of private boxes on either side of the stage, and a magnificent, sparkling crystal chandelier suspended over the orchestra, with other smaller chandeliers surrounding it, the theater was as elegant as I had pictured. As we took in our surroundings, the chandeliers began to rise toward the ceiling, the lights dimmed, the orchestra began to hum in preparation for the opening of the curtain—and a small electronic screen lit up in front of each of us.

Thanks to the Met’s website, I knew that the performance would be sung in Italian with subtitles, which I had naively been expecting to appear on some sort of screen near the stage. As it turned out, however, each seat came complete with its own subtitle screen embedded in the railing that ran down each aisle, able to provide subtitles in English, German, or Spanish with the push of a button. Ruth and I turned our screens on and settled in to watch the performance.

La Rondine, which means “the swallow” in French, is one of Puccini’s lightest and least well-known operas. Originally set in the mid-19th century but updated to the 1920s, La Rondine is the story of Magda, a woman who risks all for a chance at true love. Featuring Art Deco sets and costumes, the backdrop was beautifully done. In three acts, Magda moved from a luxurious Paris home filled with fashionable gowns and exquisite décor, to a raucous and rowdy Parisian dance hall, to a bright and breezy hotel on the French Riviera. I was amazed by the strength and range of all the performers’ voices, most notably those of Angela Gheorghiu, who played Magda, and Giuseppe Filianoti, who starred as her lover, the young Ruggero.

The real star of the show, however, was the music that told Magda and Ruggero’s story. Light and lively melodies intermingled with soaring, romantic pieces, and playful scenes full of dancing and laughter alternated with dramatic moments filled with longing and anxiety, perfectly complementing both the physical and emotional setting throughout. The subtitles were essential to my ability to follow the plot; yet, had they not been available, I would have enjoyed the performance just as much, as the music was really the most compelling element of all.

When the performance came to an end—after a total of two hours and fifteen minutes, including an intermission—Ruth and I took our time climbing back down the majestic staircase, taking in the elegance of our surroundings.

“You know,” she said, “we just went to the opera for about the same price we’d pay to see a movie.”

“Wow, and we got so much more,” I replied, glad to have experienced such a wonderful and elegant event—and a valuable piece of New York City culture.

While our low ticket price was thanks to a student discount, there are other ways to get such a deal at the Met. Tickets in the family circle tier are typically available for between $15 and $40, while standing room tickets are available on the day of most shows for $15 to $20. For more information on ticket prices and the Met’s current performance schedule, click here.

Several Slices of New York History

2009-02-21T11:28:00.004-05:00

Located on Fifth Avenue at 103rd Street, the Museum of the City of New York stands guard over Central Park—and over a large piece of the city’s history. Though I’ve been a New Yorker for quite some time, I had never taken the opportunity to explore this charming museum chock full of the city’s life and legacy. On a recent sunny Sunday afternoon, however, I put on my walking boots and headed up Fifth Avenue for a dose of New York history.

After a lovely walk alongside the park, I entered the MCNY and waited on a short line to pay the $9 admission fee before being let loose in the small but well-filled space. The MCNY does not have a permanent collection on display, instead featuring a handful of special exhibitions at any given time (à la Cooper-Hewitt). And I knew which one was first on my list to explore.

“Paris/New York: Design, Fashion, Culture, 1925-1940” was set up in a gallery on the museum’s first floor, where it examined the cultural exchange between New York and Paris during this period of high energy and creative output. Well-organized, the exhibit explored each cultural area in which New York and Paris influenced one another. Photographs, furniture, and decorative objects showed New York’s adoption of the French Art Deco style in architecture and design, as well as the Parisians’ fascination with New York’s soaring skyscrapers and functional, utilitarian styles. There were souvenirs, silver, and other items from the French luxury liner Normandie, which docked in New York throughout the 1930s, alongside paintings, posters, and video clips of American entertainer Josephine Baker, who became a French citizen in 1937.

My favorite part of “Paris/New York” featured a collection of dresses, gowns, suits, shoes, jewelry, and other fashionable pieces from designers like Coco Chanel, Paul Poiret, and Cartier, showing the influence of French haute couture on American fashion, as well as that of American materials and production methods on Parisian styles. All in all, the exhibit was a walk through a creative, flourishing time period—and two of my very favorite cities.

Inspired by the fashions featured in “Paris/New York,” I was excited to find the next exhibit at MCNY, “Valentina: American Couture and the Cult of Celebrity.” An immigrant to New York in the early 1920s, Valentina became a pioneer of the city’s fashion industry, outfitting the likes of Greta Garbo, Katherine Hepburn, and Gloria Swanson in sweeping gowns, classic suits, and Renaissance-inspired styles, a large selection of which are all on display now through May 17.

During a time when boxy shapes, simple styles, and short, flapper-inspired skirts were all the rage, Valentina designed long, gauzy gowns, elegant coats, and full, feminine skirts, nearly all of which I would gladly don today. On display are the gown worn by Katherine Hepburn in The Philadelphia Story, a selection of pieces from Valentina’s personal collection, which she cultivated as carefully as those of her clients, as well as photographs, news clippings, and personal letters and mementos that shed light on Valentina’s role as New York celebrity in addition to that of celebrated fashion designer.

After poring over nearly every item in “Paris/New York” and “Valentina,” I made my way up to the second and third floors of the museum, where I browsed several intriguing exhibits. “Eudora Welty in New York: Photographs of the Early 1930s” featured a comprehensive selection of black-and-white photographs of New York and Mississippi, highlighting the effect of the Great Depression on each state—and showing that the renowned author also had quite an eye for composition. Meanwhile, “Broken Glass” was a selection of gritty yet eye-opening black-and-white photos of the South Bronx taken by Ray Mortenson between 1982 and 1984.

In a departure from the black-and-white photo documentary, “Perform: A History of New York Theater and Broadway” featured a vibrant collection of items from Broadway shows like Beauty and the Beast, Avenue Q, Les Miserables, and Rent, as well as an excellent overview of Times Square and Broadway itself. “New York Toy Stories” displayed a wide collection of toys, games, piggy banks, dolls, puzzles, and more, all either owned or created by New Yorkers over several generations. I found myself fascinated by a series of carefully detailed doll houses, the most elaborate of which was the prominently displayed Stettheimer doll house, which even included miniature replicas of each piece of art in the Stettheimer family’s New York mansion.

Other interesting exhibits included “New York Interiors: 1690-1906,” which featured replicas of rooms in New York homes over the centuries; “Trade: A History of New York City Ports and Commerce;” “Protect,” a history of fire and firefighting in New York City; and “Growing and Greening New York,” a look at how the city can ensure a more sustainable future.

As my feet were beginning to protest in anticipation of the twenty-plus-block walk home, I wasn’t able to devote as much time to each exhibit as I would have liked. Yet I left the MCNY having spent time in the exhibits I was most interested in, taking away some new knowledge and several slices of New York history.

To see all of the exhibits currently on display at the Museum of the City of New York, click here. Is truly has something for everyone—just like the city itself.

Sunflowers and Sangria at Samalita's

2009-02-12T14:00:00.002-05:00

Last week, my friend Jess and I were craving Mexican. After mulling over several tried-and-true Mexican go-to spots on the UES—Cilantro, Canyon Road, Blockhead’s, Mustang—we decided to give Samalita’s a try. And what we got was Mexican with a tasty twist.

On the corner of 87th and 1st, Samalita’s stands out with its lively yellow awning and signature sunflower logo on the front door, both of which served as beacons of warmth and welcome on what turned out to be a cold, wet night. Perhaps because of the rather inclement weather, Jess and I had our pick of tables in the spacious yet cozy dining area, which featured warm wood paneling, mellow lighting, and a long, inviting bar. We chose a table alongside the floor-to-ceiling windows toward the front of the restaurant, and our host thoughtfully positioned our chairs so as to give us both prime people-watching views.

Neither of us had had much time to browse the menu online beforehand, so we were surprised—and impressed—to find a wider variety than most Mexican restaurants offer. Samalita’s is, in fact, a Mexican/Californian restaurant, which means that it features cuisine from both northern and southern California. So while there were typical Mexican dishes like burritos, fajitas, and enchiladas on the menu, they were listed alongside entrées that could be classed more Italian than Mexican—pizza, pasta, and the like. Suddenly our craving for Mexican turned into a partial craving for Italian as well.

Unsure whether we were more in the mood for a margarita or a glass of wine, we settled on the perfect combination of both—sangria—and began some serious decision-making. The southern California offerings on the menu included appetizers like fresh guacamole, chile relleno, quesadillas, and a Mexicana salad; and entrées like chicken ranchero, a roasted half-chicken marinated in spices and chiles and topped with almonds and green olives; plus the standard burritos, fajitas, and tacos.

The northern California portion of the menu featured appetizers like beef carpaccio, fried calamari, and mozzarella in carozza, with entrées like a variety of thin-crust pizzas; tortelloni pasta filled with artichoke hearts, black truffles, and parmesan cheese; a honey-glazed roast duckling; pork chop Milanese; and a tuna filet crusted with poppy seeds. Needless to say, the sheer variety of our choices was a bit overwhelming.

Still in the mood for Mexican, I chose rather quickly: the Samalita’s enchiladas, filled with shrimp, mushrooms, and raisins, sautéed in dry sherry, and served with green mole and sour cream. Jess had a bit more trouble with her decision, but finally decided on the chicken breast rollatine filled with ricotta, provolone, spinach, artichoke hearts, and shallots, sautéed with pinot grigio and mushrooms, and served with cheese mashed potatoes. And, so she could still have a taste of Mexican, we ordered the fresh guacamole appetizer.

The guacamole was indeed fresh, though it was a bit heavy on the lemon juice, and we found the tortilla chips to be somewhat on the greasy side. What the guacamole lacked, however, our sangria certainly made up for. Not too strong, not too sweet, it was fresh, fruity, and just right.

Our entrées, meanwhile, proved to be just as unique as the menu. My enchiladas looked like standard Mexican fare, but the added mushrooms, raisins, and sherry gave them a slightly sweet taste in addition to the tanginess of the green mole sauce. They were definitely different, but I ate every bite, as did Jess with her chicken rollatine, which had been artfully arranged on her plate and packed quite a variety of tastes in every bite as well.

While Samalita’s might not have fully satisfied our craving for classic Mexican, its unique variety of California-style fare left us feeling very satisfied indeed.

"Art and Love" at the Met

2009-02-03T17:22:00.004-05:00

Last week I finally made my way over to the Met to see an exhibit I’d been eager to see since it was first announced: "Art and Love in Renaissance Italy." Featuring over 150 works, from paintings to sculptures to pieces of jewelry created to celebrate love and marriage during the period from about 1400 to the mid-16th century, the exhibit is not only a tribute to the romantic, but an exploration of the role of love, marriage, and family during the Italian Renaissance.

Upon entering the Special Exhibition Galleries on the 2nd floor, I was immediately struck by the deep red color the exhibit’s entrance had been painted, a color that immediately evokes images of love and romance. I made my way into the first gallery and was pleased to discover that the layout of “Art and Love” had been well-planned, in typical Met fashion. Each gallery focuses on one aspect of Renaissance love, then moves the visitor along fluidly to the next segment of the exhibit.

The first set of galleries deals with the Renaissance wedding, showcasing items used during a ceremony or given as a gift to commemorate a union. Full of pomp and ritual, Renaissance weddings were elaborate social affairs, especially when the bride and groom were members of wealthy merchant or ruling families, such as the de Medicis or the Bentivoglios. The variety of items associated with the Renaissance wedding are all beautifully crafted and highly symbolic, and it was fascinating to see so many on display. There are an assortment of plates, bowls, jugs, and other ceramic pieces, all hand-painted with intricate designs that include the fede motif, a pair of clasped hands representing faith; garlands of myrtle, a symbol of love; various representations of virtue and chastity; as well as images of the couple to be wed, along with their families’ coats of arms. Beautiful gold rings, brooches, and other pieces of jewelry also carry these symbols, as do delicate hand-blown glassware and unique items like an inkstand featuring busts of the couple alongside the fede motif. Particularly interesting is an ornate Jewish betrothal ring, to be worn only on the wedding day, featuring a gabled top that opens to reveal the words “good luck.”

After the wedding comes the start of married life, and this is the focus of the next segment of the exhibit, with a particular emphasis on childbearing. Couples typically had portraits painted after their marriage, featuring both husband and wife, often gazing at each other or seated together and staring out in the same direction. These portraits were meant to commemorate the union while also calling to mind the virtues that each individual brought to the marriage. An especially intriguing work is Fra Filippo Lippi’s “Portrait of a Woman at a Casement,” in which a woman who appears to be dressed in the extravagant garb of a newlywed stares out a window, past a man who is looking in at her from the other side. Because their gazes don’t meet, art history scholars have raised many questions about the nature of their relationship, as well as the purpose of the work.

Another trend involved the decoration of the couple’s bedchamber with a series of paintings in panel form depicting a variety of Biblical and allegorical tales. Marco del Bruno Giamberti’s “The Story of Esther,” featuring the Biblical tale of Queen Esther, evokes images of marriage, faith, and chastity meant to encourage the couple to embrace such virtues. Paintings depicting symbols of fertility were often hung over the couple’s bed, and the room typically contained at least one cassone, or marriage chest, a large, ornately-carved trunk painted with elaborate scenes in much the same style as the panels that adorned the walls. There are several of these on display, and their size, combined with the intricacy of their design, makes them quite impressive.

When a couple bore children, the occasion was commemorated with paintings, ceramic pieces, and other decorative items, the most common of which was the childbirth tray. Large and elaborate, these trays were meant to celebrate the birth of a child during a time in which childbearing could be extremely dangerous for both mother and infant. The selection of trays on display feature highly detailed scenes, some mythical, others depicting the act of birth itself and the very private confinement room. Also on display are several portraits of children and newborns. One particularly beautiful piece is an ornately carved walnut cradle from the 16th century. All of these serve to emphasize the importance of the family during the Renaissance era.

In a departure from the marriage and family theme, two small galleries focus on “erotic love.” The mood in these galleries differs significantly from the others, as much of the work is explicit and was considered pornographic during the time in which it was produced (and could still be classed as such today). While the same level of skill and attention to detail can be seen in these works as in the others, they lack the elevating, inspirational air of the rest of the exhibit, and they detract from the themes at the core of "Art and Love." Note that you’ll definitely want to skip this section if you’re visiting with small children.

The final gallery—and quite possibly my favorite—showcases a selection of paintings meant to represent the highest ideals of love and marriage. Lorenzo Lotto’s “Venus and Cupid” shows a playful Cupid and an idyllic Venus adorned with symbols of marriage and fertility. One particular highlight is a work by Titian featuring a male musician gazing at a reclining Venus, showing the interplay between love and music. Another Titian work, “Venus Blindfolding Cupid,” is also a stunning allegory. In this gallery, the themes that run throughout the rest of the exhibit—love, marriage, beauty, virtue, fertility, family—come together beautifully, providing the perfect ending to a lovely—and love-filled—exhibit.

“Art and Love in Renaissance Italy” is on display at the Met through February 16—which means there is just enough time for a Valentine’s Day visit.

Finding Warmth in Finestra

2009-01-24T10:30:00.003-05:00

On a bitterly cold winter night, when not even your warmest hat, scarf, and gloves are protection enough against the wind as it whips around buildings and tears through intersections, there is nothing better than a warm, hearty meal in a cozy little restaurant. And perhaps it’s the red wine, the steaming plates of pasta, or the thick, creamy sauces, but an Italian restaurant always seems to do the job best. This was certainly the case earlier this week, when I met my parents for dinner at Finestra.

On the corner of 73rd and York, Finestra is marked by a red and white awning that, during the summer months, protects a charming patio, and, during the winter months, serves as a beacon of warmth on a brisk, chilly night. My parents and I huddled through the front door to Finestra’s small but inviting interior, where exposed brick walls are decorated with plants, paintings, and a selection of brightly colored ceramic plates. We were seated right away by a friendly hostess, and, just as we sat down, an acoustic guitar player set up at the front of the restaurant and began to play.

As we were softly serenaded by a selection of cover songs from artists like The Beatles and Stevie Wonder, our waitress brought over a basket of warm, crusty bread, a bowl filled with hunks of fresh parmesan cheese, and a dish of olives, all of which went perfectly with the bottle of Beaujolais my dad chose for us. Wine in hand and plenty to munch on, we began to browse the menu, a lengthy list consisting mainly of traditional Italian fare, with a few more unique selections mixed in.

There was, for example, a fried calamari appetizer, as well one featuring grilled chicken sausage and sautéed spinach. There were also a variety of soups and salads to choose from, including a fresh mixed seafood salad with chopped tomatoes and lemon dressing, and a stracciatella soup featuring spinach, eggs, and parmesan cheese. For entrées, we could chose from an assortment of pasta dishes like cappellini primavera, tortellini alfredo, and fusilli with sausage, tomatoes, and garlic sauce. There were three types of risotto, plus several shrimp and salmon dishes. There were also a variety of chicken and veal entrées, like the pollo contessa, chicken breast sautéed with prosciutto, peppers, sage, and mozzarella in a sherry wine sauce, or the veal scallopine with mushrooms and shallots in a light pink sauce.

Despite all the options, I knew with one look at the menu what I wanted to order—gnocchi in a fresh pomodoro sauce, the perfect warm and hearty meal for such a cold night. My mom chose the rigatoni ortolana, rigatoni with eggplant, zucchini, ricotta cheese, and tomato sauce, while my dad went with the classic chicken marsala. For an appetizer, we selected the crostini di polenta, polenta with mozzarella and mushrooms in a white wine sauce.

The polenta turned out to be a warm, cake-like creation held together with melted mozzarella cheese. Delicious yet surprisingly light, it was the perfect prelude to the substantial entrées we had each ordered, which were all served in ample, steaming portions. My gnocchi was fluffy yet filling, and I had enough to take home for dinner the following night. My parents were both pleased with their meals as well. We were all so pleased, in fact, that we didn’t have room for dessert, though we couldn’t help peeking at the menu, which featured a variety of sorbets, gelatos, tartufos, and Italian pastries. Next time, perhaps.

After we (or, I should say, my dad) paid what turned out to be a very reasonable bill, we bundled up to brave the cold once more, armed with full stomachs and memories of a delicious meal in a warm and cozy atmosphere. And somehow it didn’t feel quite as cold on the way home.