NYC Tourist

I visited my sister in NYC a few years ago ... with remnants of the stomach flu and two bad knees.  Their co-op is very near Washington Square and there is so much to see and do ... as well as buy ... there.  It was a very short visit and I didn't get to enjoy so much of it, so I vowed to see more if I ever returned.

For the first few days of the Wedding Week I mostly saw restaurants and the inside of Ubers and taxis.  Sunday afternoon I moved into their teeny tiny one bedroom unit along with another friend, as my Brother-in-Law was departing that evening.  We met up with the sister of the groom and her two East Coast buddies and her West Coast bestie and had a gourmet pizza luncheon.  The girls left their luggage at the coop to go play about the City as their flights weren't until 10:30 pm.

The bride and groom came over about 5pm and we shared more Dom Perignon. How they manage to be awake and coherent is beyond me.  Such a cute couple, I have to say.  They have a new age marriage as he left Monday morning for grad school in Philadelphia and she remains in NYC.  He is finished in May and they have had a commuter relationship for more than a year.  It's about a 90 minute train ride.  I think they both want to stay in NYC but it will depend on his job opportunities (he's a little genius and charming and good looking, so anyone will be glad to hire him).

Sunday night another friend of my Sis joined us and we went out for dinner again.  Fortunately, I got a cheese burger that was down to earth delish.  They shared a few desserts and my waitress sold me a HALF glass of wine for my dessert.  Life is good.

Monday morning we went on a two hour pedicab ride through Central Park.  WOW!  Our guide was an amazing wealth of knowledge and knew his history as well.  And he had a bit of gossip on who lives around there and how much the units rent or sell for.

840 acres in the middle of Manhattan.  What used to be a scary place to visit with drugs and drinking and crime everywhere, is now an oasis of green joy.  No trash, no homeless camps, no crime.  Lots of picnics and children playing and folks enjoying their lunch.  This park is now mostly maintained by a privately funded group Central Park Conservatory.  The first tree was planted 160 years ago and now there are 20,000.  It is just awesome.

The Central Park Conservancy is responsible for the management, restoration, and enhancement of Central Park and raises the Park’s nearly $80 million annual operating budget. Since its founding in 1980, the Central Park Conservancy has overseen the investment of more than $1 billion into Central Park.

Our guide pointed out where different movies had scenes filmed.  He explained that originally the space was a marsh and it took FIVE YEARS to dry it out.  Then five more years bringing in soil.  A park.  Who knew?

On the way home, we walked about the chi chi stores, the Lego store, Rockefeller Center and an I ❤️️ NY store to get baseball caps for the boys.

Yep.  Got my 10,000 steps in that day! 

THE WEDDING

Friday, September 28, 2018 at 5:30 pm (Ralph and my anniversary!)

(The front of invitation that opened like doors to 8.5 x 11 ... 

can't show you the inside to protect their privacy)

I purposely did not bring my iphone tonight.  I didn't want to be distracted trying to take photos of everything and everyone and every fabulous morsel .... I just wanted to enjoy the whole experience.

The day began cool and grey.  It was to be an outdoor wedding.  Guests were shuttled from Manhattan to Tarrytown (about a two hour drive).  Fortunately, they didn't serve alcohol on the bus ride!

At exactly 5:30, the clouds disappeared and the sun came out!  It was a Jewish ceremony with the groom's Dad officiating.  So classic and refined.  And yes, the groom stomped on the glass!  (I still don't know why this happens and why the ceremony takes place in a chuppah)

The ceremony was brief and we were ushered inside (and out) for canapes and Dom Perignon ... and any cocktail or fine wine of your choice.

Two of my brothers (and wives) and a nephew (and wife) drove 10 hours to attend.  It was like a little family reunion.  And we were seated together which was very fun. 

This is the walkway into our dining area ....

(I was seated at the round table on the left of this photo)

I had such fun!  All of the toasts.  One little person on China time fell asleep at her table.  Then the BEST dancing band ever.  Lots of 80's songs and yes, they got me up on the dance floor.  As we left for the evening, some of the Bride's relatives handed out small paper lanterns with a battery powered tea light for the Chinese part of the celebration!  We waved them in figure 8 (Chinese good luck) and each lantern represented our wish for the couple.

Then the newlyweds walked between two long rows of well wishers, she dressed in a beautiful red Chinese gown, handing out candies.

What a wedding!  I'm so glad I got to attend ... and was invited to all the other festivities before and after.

P.S.  As we were boarding the return bus, we were given a beautiful bride-designed box with a bride designed coffee cup filled with a tiny pineapple cake and I can't remember what else.  WOW

REHEARSAL DINNER

Thursday evening of the Wedding Week was the rehearsal dinner.  My Sis and Hubby hosted it at The Modern, a two Michelin-starred, contemporary American restaurant at the Museum of Modern Art.  Wowza!  The whole wedding party (and most of the guests) are Foodies and I, for one, was not disappointed.

We were in the private dining area which was an oasis in itself.  This was not our setting, we had flowers and the tables were staggered and it just felt very intimate.

CANAPÉS (passed and described as serving)
Crispy Arancini with Zucchini, Crescenza-Stracchino and Saffron Aioli

Peekytoe Crab on a Fried Green Tomato

Salmon Tartare with Korean Chili on Crispy Rice

Horseradish Steak Tartare on Potato Gaufrette 

Mini Tarte Flambé with Burrata and Bacon

FOUR-COURSE DINNER MENU
FIRST COURSE
Tuna Crudo Padrón Crema and Shaved Radish

SECOND COURSE
Artichoke in Barigoule White Polenta and Parmesan

CHOICE OF MAIN COURSE
Maine Scallops Fregola and Roasted Sunchokes       
OR
Seared Duck Breast Red Cabbage, Apples and Sauce Meurette

DESSERT
Roasted Pear Almond Tart Chèvre Chantilly and Ginger Ice Cream

SWEETS FOR THE TABLE
Petits Fours

I had to look up most of these preparations or ingredients.  Everything was totally amazing, beautiful and delicious.

Best of all, after toasts and free flowing champagne and wine, was a short video the bride's brother put together.  Lots of photos of each throughout their childhood ... in so similar settings.  (of course, I started tearing up seeing them at birth!).  He found photos of them making the same silly faces.  Then fast forward to six years of dating.  I was blubbering at the end.  Luckily he shared it with my sister so we watched a few more times later in the week.

FROM THE SISTER OF THE MOTHER OF THE GROOM

Now a little highlight of the most magical wedding I've ever attended.  It started with this:

Kim is an amazing watercolor (and other medium) artist and she designed and produced this Save the Date card. When I received my "Save the Date" for Kim and Isaac, I was awestruck. All the beauty, color and perfection. I knew she put a lot of meaning in there as well. So Janet asked her …

In Chinese culture, some of the images have really good meaning in general, but also specifically for marriage.

The urns have the character for double happiness on it - a Chinese symbol for marriage. Orange trees symbolize luck and prosperity, plums for love, and lotus blossoms for endurance and growth.

Isaac and I both love owls so I put them in! We also love turtles, moons, and anemone flowers! I put them in as well!

NOW you know the story behind the art!!!

After the longest travel day I can remember, I arrived at the Marlton Hotel.

The teeniest, tiniest hotel room ever.  Chosen because it is very close to my Sister's co-op in case they needed any help.  The room was 10x10 and had everything I needed and especially location, location, location.  Two blocks to Washington Square!

At least there was room for my humongous suitcase and my carry-on!  Here's the view from the front door

The bathroom door wouldn't even open the entire way.  The "closet" was an armoire at the foot of the bed.  And half of that was minibar, safe, etc.

The exorbitant price included breakfast and coffee.  I had avocado on toast with tomato slices and two perfectly hard boiled eggs and a wonderful kale salad with lemon.  Every day!  I need to make that at home.  So satisfying and lasted all morning.

I awoke to a text from my Sis asking if I could run an errand for her.  Since water to our block was OFF from 8:30 until 2:30, I had breakfast and hired an Uber to take me to the Jewish Museum about five miles from hotel.  UNfortunately, the UN was in session and traffic was ten times worse than you would expect.  My drive became a tour guide.  He took me along the East River (pointing out police boats with machine gun armed officers on deck) as well as lots of nannies wheeling prams and an equal number of dog walkers.  Luckily he waited for me and my 5 minute stop and he brought me home a different way, right through downtown Manhattan.  It was a fun way to help out even though the 10 mile round trip took two hours!

It's a bit more expensive to use Uber (or Lyft) than a taxi but it's a lot easier to get a ride.

Next ... the Rehearsal Dinner!

THE GLAMOUR OF TRAVEL .... not

Last Wednesday I left Portland, Oregon to travel to New York City for my youngest nephew's wedding.

Luckily I had miles to spend instead of cash and splurged to go First Class.  I'm one of those people who plan ahead as far as possible, so I made reservations in March.  There were no nonstop flights but I was just happy that Alaska Air could get me there!   We were routed through Dallas with just one hour between connections, which makes me nervous because that is one big airport!  This would be one eventful trip.

In June Alaska emailed me to say there had been a schedule change ... now I had a FOUR HOUR layover and instead of arriving during daylight hours (5:00 pm) I would arrive at 9:34 pm.  Somehow it's just scarier doing the unknown in the dark. 

The trip started off on an odd note.  We had to walk outside for a block or two (it was covered and not raining), then up a switchback ramp.  I haven't not had a jet bridge since I flew on a private plane 25 years ago.  It was an unnerving way to begin my 7:00 am flight.

The plane was way smaller than I was expecting.  A commuter jet size holding just 56 people plus crew.  For the first time, the airline enforced it's rule on two pieces of carry on.  So many had to check their bag at the plane.  (Or maybe that was the fliers' goal ... free checked bag and first bags off?)   First class was one seat on one side and two seats on the other.  The carry-on storage on my side was too small to hold my suitcase but fortunately, there was room across the aisle. Luckily it was a smooth flight but gosh did I feel for the attendants.  Not much room to maneuver!  

It was not first class food or utensils.  No champagne or mimosa offered.  Clear plastic cups and plastic fork and knife.  I had to ask for a napkin.  Who would pay that extra $$$ to fly First Class?  After traveling Business Class several times with Mr. Ralph, this failed to fulfill my expectations.  

We got to Dallas whereupon I learned it was NOT the big Dallas Ft Worth airport but the Dallas Love Field.  Small.  And Alaska must be new to the airport as they had just a few gates.  We had to sit on our plane for 45 minutes waiting on one.  While waiting, the a/c system snowed on us everyone once in a while.

As my four hour wait was ending, Alaska announced a delay in departure.  One hour.  Then another.  Then another.  I went to Starbucks to drown my sorrows ... they were out of blueberry scones...when I got more indulgent and ordered a chocolate chip cookie ... they were also out.  By now I'm tired and crankier than normal.  Hmpphhhh.

Finally arrived at LaGuardia after midnight, cabbed into Manhattan (without being mugged or being a victim of SVU) and actually fit my two bags into my tiny palace and was asleep by 3:00 am local time.

Oh yeh.  The glamour of travel.

WELL, I JUST MISS BLOGGIN!

So I'm back!  I thought about changing the name but, it is what it is!

We DID have a nice busy summer and with Mr. 4 now in afternoon Pre-K and Mr. Almost 8 in school til 3:15 ... I'm going to get my gab back on.

Tomorrow morning (O'Dark Thirty) I head to NYC to my nephew's dream wedding.  They've been dating for six years so it was just time.  He has one more year of grad school (in Philadelphia) and she lives in NYC and this old Auntie is not sure how that will work.

It is the fanciest wedding I have ever joined.  Since I'm flying in, The MOG (mother of the groom ... my favorite (only) sister) feels compelled to invite me to everything.  My sister (and hubby) are Foodies and so are the almost-married couple, so this week is all about gourmet eating (and drinking).  Rehearsal dinner Thursday night, Wedding festivities Friday night, brunch on Saturday morning and lunch on Sunday.  Fortunately, one of my sister's good friends is also a solo so we did some speed dating via text and have made many plans for our off time.  Including naps.

Best of all (and most nerve wracking!) is getting clothes to suit each occasion.  The bride requested formal attire and no black or navy blue for the early evening wedding.  I do not have anything formal.  Or anything very suitable for dining out in these chi chi places.  After browsing online, I discovered I did not want to pay $$$ for something I will probably never wear again.  A second cousin posted about Rent The Runway on her Facebook page and VOILA!  Problem solved.

Well, except that since I am the hugest I have ever been in my life, the choices for large and curvy were slim pickings.  Especially if not black or navy.  But I did find something that I would feel comfortable in.  One of the BEST features is that real renters take photos of themselves wearing that dress so you can see what it might look like on you!  The next best feature is that you get to pick a "back up" size ... FREE.  They will deliver to my hotel on Thursday!  I mail it back on Saturday!

As it looks on their web site.  It's called Water Lillies by designer Badgley Mischka.

 This is a gal who is my age and my size!

(and yes, I have a cream pashmina and a black pashmina so every outfit can be accessorized)(and this purse ....

Tiny silver beads

As a bonus for being a first time user, a FREE dress ...

Let the adventures begin!

BLOG VACATION

Or maybe I am retiring altogether.

The past five years of blogging have been good for my soul.  It helped me handle my grief and share my life.

Lately I have not been investing my time in blogging.  Life is good and busy and fun.  School is out next Monday and our routine will just be getting busier.  I moved back to Oregon to help my kidults with the kiddos.  Now that I've removed the stress of being micro-managed on the HOA Board, retired from 7 years of writing and/or editing the monthly newsletter, and dialed back on volunteering ... I'm choosing to spend this extra time and energy on my kids and my health.

You have my email address if you want to keep in touch.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE reading YOUR blogs.  My goal now is one Gramma post on Facebook per day.

THANK YOU!