Goodbye, 2009!

Gramercy Park

Winter in NY

View from my window to Gramercy Park

Inside Gramercy Park

My favorite apt

The tree at Rockefeller Plaza


BIG snowflake in front of my office

It's Snowing!

I can't call this my first NY snow, because it actually snowed a couple of weekends ago for about 20 minutes, and it was terrible. The first time the snow was mixed in with rain and wind and I was on my way to the gym and not dressed appropriately. Needless to say, I was really, really disappointed.

Then on Saturday, I had my first REAL NY snow! It was beautiful and fluffy and it wasn't wet or anything. It really was pretty for the first few hours, and it was fun to go home and watch the snow fall from my warm apartment. But then it did get a little annoying when I had to put all my gear on to go out to get a mani/pedi, and then take it all off when I got to the salon, and then put it all back on to leave, and then take it all off when I went to get take-out, and put it all back on again to go home...

My NY Apt - Updated Video

I have a couple of additions to my apartment that I wanted to share. Watch my video!

PARIS, pt deux

Went to Paris again, but this time got to stay for more than 30 hours! I spent 1 night in the 1st Quarter and the other night in the 8th. I'd never been to this section of the 8th Quarter and I really loved it. It was a little more residential and the street that my hotel was on was very quiet, but just a 10 minute walk away was Place de Clichy, with lots of little sidewalk cafes and bistros around a big round-about (they love their round-abouts) and a square with a yummy crepe, waffle, and churro stand. There were tons of people out, so I sat down at one of the cafes and watched people walking by while I ate dinner and then had an espresso. The best was when someone asked me for directions - I must have looked so French (minus the cigarette).

I'm a little disappointed in myself, because I thought I would eat a lot more than I actually did. Food and drink consumed Friday night-Sunday afternoon: 2 espressos, 1 mini croissant, 2 crepes (1 with nutella, 1 with powdered sugar), 2 macarons (1 from Pierre Herme, 1 from Lauderee), several glasses of wine, several glasses of champagne, steak tartare, croque madame, procuitto and butter on a baguette.

Macarons are my new favorite dessert. I would be totally happy if they were the only dessert I could ever have again for the rest of my life. The macarons at Pierre Herme are magical and some of them even sparkle (seriously). I am adding them to my list of Top 10 Foods of all Time. (Image from: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2OTtbFJdjDMDX6oMQQ_wUcs2FHZXaBbO5qDPyhVLMQ-aGM9bylHLRfKbiWmSW5tsXdAFH53uSxqVJMDE1ZALnMvkPZaTIScoh1POVxX6g3Uscs0AnJN7q5-qiyy9knoEyyObqffI1Nw8/s400/5+PIERRE+HERME.jpg)

Ok, now for the pictures. You can never have too many pictures of the Eiffel Tower. Here are 5 of the 30 that I took:

I didn't realize until I got home that just about every picture I took has trees in it. I don't care though. As a New Yorker, I have come to appreciate the leaves changing color in the fall...

Outside my hotel

Parc du Monceau

Arc de Triomphe

Notre Dame

Floating down the Seine

In the Opera District

Celebrity Siting #7

WHO: Beth Ostrosky (Howard Stern's wife)
WHERE: La Esquina, SOHO
WHEN: 11/18/09 9PM
NOTES: She's cute on TV, but so much prettier in real life!

The New Museum

Checked out the New Museum in Nolita today

My favorite piece in the Urs Fischer: Marguerite de Ponty exhibit

Image from: http://www.newmuseum.org/exhibitions/417/urs_fischermarguerite_de_ponty

The best part about the museum is the roof deck. Amazing views!

Weird Sh*t at Duane Reade

Nicolas Pol: Martus Maw Exhibit in LES

My first art opening in NY: Nicolas Pol exhibit presented by Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld. It was in this shady industrial part of the Lower East Side in an old warehouse. It was fantastic! Amazing art, great DJ, tons of champagne, and lots of celebrities. SO New York.

http://www.interviewmagazine.com/nightlife/nicolas-pol-the-martus-maw/

http://www.iwanttobearoitfeld.com/vladimir-roitfeld-photographs/nicholas-polthe-martus-maw-opening/

Celebrity Siting #6 + Tourist Weekend

Ultimate NY Celebrity Siting:
Woody Allen in Central Park

Walking by the Met

Battery Park City

Financial District

Trinity Church

View of the Brooklyn Bridge from Pier 16

Momofuku Milk Bar

Watching talented chefs make Crack Pie:

"toasted oat crust, gooey butter filling", basically everything sweet and good, all in a slice of pie

More treats at Milk

We also ate at Momofuku's Ssam restaurant next door to Milk.

barron point oysters (wa) – kimchi

steamed buns – pork belly, hoisin, cucumbers, scallions (MY FAVE!)

fried brussels sprouts – fish sauce vinaigrette, mint, delfino

crispy pig’s head (newman’s farm, mo) – sauerkraut, pear mostarda

montauk skate – old bay fingerling potatoes, spicy aioli, preserved lemon

spanish octopus – avocado, cantaloupe, shishito pepper

long island crescent duck – lobster mushroom, daikon, orange

Steamed Pork Buns, MMMMM! ps: I didn't take this picture

Celebrity Meeting & Siting #5

Went to Carnival and they were hosting a premiere after party for the cast of Splinterheads

WHO: Lea Thomspon (aka: Lorraine Baines McFly - Back to the Future)
WHERE: Carnival (Union Square)
WHEN: 11/6/09 11-ish PM
NOTES: I actually MET her! So cute!

WHO: Christopher MacDonald (aka: Shooter McGavin - Happy Gilmore)
WHERE: same
WHEN: same
NOTES: Spotted him at the table next to us.

Weekend in CA

I went home for the first time in 2 months for a babyshower/reunion in San Luis Obispo. It was a short and busy weekend, and I was exhausted on Monday morning when I got back, but it was so worth it :)

I spent Thursday night in SF in my friends' new apartment. CLICK HERE to watch the video. Amazing!

Pictures from the weekend:

1st Stop: Ham and brie sandwich from Muzio's in SLO! MMMMM!

Our house in Morro Bay

Pear Valley Winery in Paso Robles

The Girls

Walking on the beach in Morro Bay