Gotham Gal

Cooper Union

Cooper Union is one of the institutions in NYC that the more I know about it, the more impressed I am.  The college is home to aspiring artists and architects.  It is no easy feat to get in.  The process is intense and grueling.  Many porfolios are requested and presentations made specifically for admissions.  I believe there is also a tremendous endowment which allows students to go for free.  So needless to say, if you get in, y0u have scored large.  There don't take a lot of students and the few they take must be very talented.  I only know one person who is attending now and she is beyond talented. 

Every year around this time, the school puts on a show of the seniors work.   Architectural work, paintings, photographs, video presentations, sculptures, etc.  Two years ago, we bought something from one of the seniors.  A large photograph from a young artist named Matthew Corones.  That is the picture on the left.

The show was up this past week so we went over.  We got there at 7pm and the show closed at 7pm.  We didn't realize and were very bummed.  The security guard looked us up and down.  Me, Fred and the girls.  He must have figured we looked harmless enough and said to go on up.  We were the only ones wandering the hallways.  It was great.  Some of the work wasn't so good but a few were fantastic.  There were 2 paintings which I would buy in a heartbeat.  We are going to try and get in touch with the artists, as we did with Matthew a few years back.  I'll keep you posted. 

Hedeh

I had read about Hedeh on Great Jones Street.  Figured if I was ever in the neighborhood and needed a place to eat, I'd check it out.  I was there, so I went to Hedeh.  Nice little jewel. 

When I walked in I immediately made a note to remember the bar.  Big long bar with small little tables and windows that open to the street.  Quaint with low ceilings.  Really liked the vibe.  We continued through the bar into the back area where there are tables for dinner.  On the left are the tables, and on the right is a seriously long sushi bar.  You can eat while watching the variety of cooks fix you dins.  The kitchen is minimal.  I could easily hop behind the counter and start cooking.

We had a good bottle of sake and got down to business.  We ordered a variety of appetizers to share.  They are all very nouveau Japanese, such as Nobu does.  Not what you are expecting when it arrives in terms of your typical presentation but once you take a bite, it is consistently delicious.  The portions are small but really good. 

Age Dofu is one of our favs.  Hedeh's is like custard in a light miso sauce and small pine nuts.  Our other appetizers was white asparagus cut up in small pieces and then served with light and delicate mushrooms.  We scarfed that down pretty quick.  I can't recall the other 2 but one was with duck and the other was with lamb.  Sounded interesting and not what you'd expect.  They were both really good.

We all had sushi for dinner.  They have entrees there but it was a sushi kind of night.  The sushi was excellent.  Buttery, fresh and delicious.  We actually all went for sashimi that night. 

The service couldn't have been nicer.  I've made the mental note.  I'll be back. 

Packing for Camp

There is nothing quite like packing for camp.  For any of you who have done it, you know.  It is a serious undertaking.  The list is provided by each camp but if you have been there before, the list doesn't always cut it.  You need other stuff, you know, stuff. 

So, I got ready for the big pack.  I recommended the same thing to my best pal who had a serious epiphany when she discovered the site.  Drugstore.com.  You can't beat it.  Log on and in about 10 minutes you have purchased all the shampoo, conditioner, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste and anything else you can think of.  Any purchase over $50 is free shipping.  It is a glorious way to shop.  Although they now spam me even though I didn't sign up for information, but alas, most sites do that.

The girls helped me this year.  We packed all 6 trunks in one day.  Sharpies in hand and we plunged in. 

At our camp you bring the trunks to the bus when the kids leave.  Unfortunately we have 3 kids and 6 bags don't fit in the mini van with us and them so I send them to camp courtesy of DHL. 

I logged into DHL, told them I need a pick up.  Literally 10 minutes later a DHL guy rang my door bell.  Gotta love it.  Goodbye bags.  Until next year....

Chocolate

One of the finest things in life is chocolate.  My brother literally can not go a day with out eating at least a little bit. 

La Maison du Chocolat is one of the many chocolate spots that seem to be growing at a rapid rate around the city.   We stopped there for a little treat.  Hot chocolates, cold chocolates, hard chocolates and pastries.  We had a great time tasting and eating. 

I think we should actually do a huge chocolate tasting through out the city.  I have been to quite a few of the chocolate stores and I would not put La Maison du Chocolat at the top of my list but it was certainly good going down. 

Culture Day

I have been torturing the kids for years.  I actually make them go to the museum a few times a year.  I also shlep them to gallery openings and other art related events.  They complain vehemently but funny enough, they end up talking about what they saw over the next day or so. 

I warned them that the day after school ended, we were going to do a day of culture before they head off to camp.  Maybe it was the pre-warning or maybe they have finally learned how to enjoy it...hmmm, I have to think about this one.  But, we spent the day doing 2 museums and a variety of other stuff and they all loved it.  I swear.  The picture on the left proves it. 

We began at the Jewish Museum to see the Maurice Sendak exhibit.  The exhibit gave us all better insight into his books and life.  The holocaust made a huge impact on him and most of the books really were about that.  The kids and I talked about how books sometimes seem like wonderful simple stories but in reality they are about something much more meaningful which unfold sometimes when you talk about it or learn about an author.  There were wonderful drawings that he had done and even larger pieces from plays that were put on.  All and all a very worthwhile exhibit to see. 

Then we went to the MOMA.   We ate lunch at the new cafeteria that Danny Meyer created and runs.  The cafe is large and airy with fresh food made to order.  You can watch it all happen once you put in your order.  The menu is very apropos for the times.  Figs and cheese, shaved mushroom salad, mozzarella, prosciutto and pesto panini etc.  The food is perfect and delicious.  He did an amazing job. 

After lunch, we walked around the MOMA.  The kids were completely into the architecture but also the really modern artists such as Chuck Close, Jasper Johns and Cindy Sherman.  After we finished that section, they actually asked, yes asked me to see the floor with the Picasso's, Monets, Chagall and Matisse.  They twisted my arm, so I complied.  I wanted to show them some photography but unfortunately that area was closed off for a new exhibit that had not opened yet.  Emily actually said to me after both floors that she really didn't relate to the Picasso floor and much preferred the more modern art that is being made today.

All and all we had a great day.  I am not sure what the turning point was for the kids but perhaps it has to do with starting small.  We have taken them to cultural exhibits since they were quite young for very limited periods of time.  I recall taking Jessica at age 4 to the Matisse exhibit and she yelled and pointed across that room that the picture was of people dancing naked.  It was hilarious.  We would talk about what they saw afterwards.  We have a great appreciation for the arts.  We have friends who are artists and collect ourselves.  I guess it is like taking kids out for dinner.  When they are young it is so painful.  They can't sit still, they spill, they are rude, etc. but eventually they learn and it becomes a enjoyable experience.  Who knows.  Maybe they are just growing up.

The best audience is your friends

We are a family who love to throw a party.  So, at the end of the school year, the kids always throw their own bash.  They invite their pals the day school ends and we have a barbecue in the backyard.  The kids play bball and just hang out.  It is really a great way to say good bye until we say hello again next fall.  This year we had 3 separate events.  Jess had some friends out to the beach for a girls weekend.  Josh and Emily had the same party but separately.  So, Josh's was from 12:30-2 and Em's was from 4-6:30.  I just flipped burgers, dogs and kept the food going.  It was great. 

Josh and his band, The Four Fellows, ended off his party with a final performance of the year.  Nothing could be better than having your friends be the audience (parents included).  They had a blast.   (Josh is the drummer)

Graduation Day

This past week has been a whirlwind.  It seems to always be like every year as the school year winds down.  The most exciting part of the past 2 weeks was Jessica's graduation from middle school.  It was a big deal.  The kids created their own ceremony.  Speechs, videos, movies, solo performances, etc.  It was really moving.  Made me incredibly teary.  It is such a strange thing having a daughter going into High School and realizing that in 4 more years she'll be off to college.  How did that happen when I still 29? 

Congratulations to all the 8th graders.  It is a turning point in the road.  The turning point of many other mitzvahs to come. 

Gusto

Once in a while you hit on a new restaurant which exceeds your expectations.  If you are really lucky, it is in your neighborhood.   My lucky day happened, Gusto Ristorante e Bar Americano, opened in my hood.  I have a sneaking suspicion that people will come from all over to eat at Jody Williams new place, not just from the local neighborhood.  Too bad for me. 

The restaurant is located at Greenwich and Perry.  Restaurant row in the West Village.  If things continue to change in this area of the city, Jody's restaurant will be the first step of more upscale restaurants on that street. 

The decor is simple, clean and fresh.  Black and white is the color with a long bar and a great chandelier.  Booths and tables.  The menu is home cooked Italian with flair.  Our meal was fantastic. 

We started with the squash blossoms stuff with mozzarella, spices and fried to perfection.  It was too bad we shared them because I could have eaten an entire plate by myself.  Not greasy, just perfect.  We also shared four other appetizers.  Each delicious.  Grilled sardines was the appetizer of the day.  Cooked to perfection.  Easily slid off the bone.  The octopus and celery was also good.  The octopus was grilled, yet slightly charred with a vinaigrette of celery poured over the top.  The crunch of the celery with the octopus was the perfect combo in your mouth.  The fried artichokes were crispy, not too oily and melted in your mouth.  Small Italian artichokes.  The last appetizer we split was the marinated cuttlefish.  Small pieces of cuttlefish marinated in olive oil and seasonings.  It was the least favorite of mine but more on personal likes than taste. 

We couldn't help it (I was with the foodie group) we split 2 pastas before our main course.  There were 4 of us.  I could have stopped at this point, I was truly full but everything was just so good, I couldn't help myself.  The wine didn't hurt either.  We split the ravioli stuffed with eggs, walnuts and bitter greens.  We also split the classic Sardinian pasta with mint, tomatoes and pecorino.  All the pastas were divine.  At this point, I wouldn't have expected anything else.

Main courses were our own but we tasted everything.  The Dover sole was drenched in a lemon sauce and the fish cut like butter.  The tuna belly was grilled exactly as ordered with a mixture of olives and escarole which intensified the flavor over the top.  The salt cod isn't something I would order but beautifully presented and delicious.  I had the veal chop special.  Huge veal chop, juicy inside and crispy outside.  A medley of mushrooms served over the top.  Sublime.  They also sent over the beef ribs which were falling over the bone and had a serious kick to them.  I had to have one bite.

Desserts were divine too.  Ice creams, cakes and cookies.  I don't remember much at this point, but I remember I couldn't stop eating the pistachio ice cream.  Sweet and smooth.

All and all one of the best new places I have been to in a while.  Looking forward to returning again and again.  FYI - the night we went, the place was buzzing with foodies - Gourmet mag writers, other restaurateurs etc.  Everyone was congratulating Jody.  Me too.  Bravo!!

Podcasting

We have our new show of Positively Tenth Street up.  We seem to be getting into the groove.  If you want to listen to it, just click here. 

Graduation Day

It is graduation season.  College, high school, moving up from middle school to high school, nursery school graduation, etc.  In a few weeks, the New York Times will have a list of the different speakers at the colleges and universities around the country and quote some of their more poignant comments.  It is always a good read. 

Today I attended the high school graduation of LREI, the school our kids attend where I also happen to be a trustee and sit on the Executive Board.  I really love all this school stands for.  Today was the day to celebrate that.

No famous people giving speeches, just the Chairperson of the Board, the Head of the School, the High School Principal, an elected ( by their peers) teacher to give a speech and 2 students.  As always,  they congratulated the class and gave advice about the future.  What struck me more than anything is the devotion of each student to the mission of progressive education which is the heart and soul of this school. 

This particular class was very devoted to community.  They had all entered 9th grade 4 years ago and on their second day of school the world trade center was attacked.  It was the day we now all refer to as 9/11.  In a school that resides below Houston Street, that act of terrorism made an impact on these young adults in a way that none of us will truly realize until they grow into older adults and we see what type of impact they make in the world.  A very different world upon graduation vs. the day they walked into the school. 

I have high hopes for this class of 2005.  Congratulations.  Enjoy the moment.