Ok, so just my blog is moving. I know it’s annoying, now you’ll have to redo your bookmark, I’m so sorry. What? You didn’t bookmark my blog? We’re fighting!
The site I’m moving to now is much better, and I can do more things with it. Like make a fun header!
Also, you can subscribe to this one using just your email, and it will send the whole blog in 1 email when I post.. if thats what you want.
See you over there!
xo ZZ
Several times I day I walk the block between my place and P&H’s, which is also on the way to the subway, so I’ve memorized practically every step along the way. There’s three restaurants, two laundromats, the building with the smelly trash cans, the place I am always sure to see a rat, the brownstone that always has furniture on the sidewalk on trash day, the doll house store, bakery and the passive-aggressive-note-leaver. Though I guess he/she isn’t that passive aggressive…
Oddly enough, there aren’t any windows close to this sign…? Though maybe that red tape is the window they speak of??
I love walking by the Tiny Doll House store, which is exactly as it sounds. They have the tiny version of anything you can think of and it would take hours to see every single object. Strollers, brick walls, sushi, wood planes, violins, jewelry box, kittens playing, Louis Vuitton suitcases, Tiffanys shopping bags, Harry Potter books - it all comes in size A/M for adorably mini.
Right next door is Orwasher’s Bakery, it seems to always be open, and always handing out samples of bread. I think I’ve tried almost everything there, the black and white cookies, the sourdough, the spelt bread, raspberry, apricot, and strawberry cookies, - the only thing I have yet to taste is the doughnut that is filled with jelly upon ordering.
What’s also nice about this block is that Orwasher’s paints the sidewalk from my doorstep to H&P’s with color chalk drawings, arrows and happy phrases, and I’m always up for a little light reading on my strolls.
Then there is Heidi’s House. The first couple times I walked by it, I thought it was a bar, or a small room you rent out for a party. Turns out it’s a restaurant that is just always full, but I guess its not that hard to fill a place that only sits 20 people. They don’t take reservations, so I had to call right when they opened and put my name on the list. Luckily no one else wanted to eat earlier than us, because there is only 1 table that seats 4.
I don’t know if I was just really hungry, but other than the service that was…unavailable?… the food exceeded my expectations. The bruchetta appetizers used bread from Orwashers with melted fresh mozzarella, perfectly ripe yellow and red tomatoes, onions and a sprinkle of S&P.
We also tried the Dandelion and Burdock. It’s like cream soda, black licorice, root beer - and I guess dandelion. Very strange, but intriguing at the same time.
Peter ordered the 25 minute macaroni and cheese which uses organic gluten free pasta, bacon from properly fed piggies (their words, not mine), chorizo sausage and lobster. It certainly looked good.
Then my meal. Sometime I get a case of “whatever ever someone else ordered, looks better than mine” but this did not turn out that way. It was a special written on the chalkboard, and I don’t even remember everything that was in it, but it went something like: Squid and shrimp salad with fennel frissee with blood orange. Every bite was citrusy, salty, fresh and mouthwatering. I even ate the legs off the octopus, which I never do.
If there is a lava cake or soufflé of sorts, Peter can’t not order it. I’m glad he has no willpower over gooey chocolate, because this soufflé was really good, probably because of all the organic Belgian dark chocolate.
I only wish there would have been a longer walk home to work off some of that food.
And that’s what happening in my neck of the woods.
xo ZZ
After our lovely dinner at Veselka, we headed to the land of chocolate over indulgence- Max Brenner. It’s a dash of European/Parisian cafe with a heaping spoonful of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Small tables, faux chocolate flowing through pipes above you.
While waiting, we took turns trying to recreate the Bald Man with only one line. Then adding hair to the original.
Hilarie ordered Waffle Fries dusted with chili and cocoa powder, and a Yellow Granita- lemonade blended with fresh mint and ice. Both were amazing. (Speaking of amazing, she’s started her blog back, Check it out. Positively Panicked.)
Peter got the Chocolate Pizza. Double chocolate melting chunks, crunchy hazelnut bits, bananas, peanut butter and roasted marshmallows. It tasted exactly like a heart attack.
Besides the drink, I think my order was the best. Tutti Frutti Waffles. Red berries citrus salad, milk chocolate ganache and vanilla crumbled ice cream. That stuff on top was powdered sugar, and whatever that crunchy stuff is they put on top of blueberry muffins to make them heavenly. In the bowl was individual rice krispies covered in chocolate. Melt in your mouth.
I bet you’re wishing for Taste-a-puter. ( That’s like Smell-a-Vision but for computers). Quick, someone invent that.
Ok, I can’t look at this anymore, it’s making me feel sick and hungry at the same time.
Bow tie shopping is so much easier than dress shopping. I’m not sure easier is precisely the right word, but it’s definitely better than looking for a yellow dress. As much as I love shopping, it was also less stressful than going on a wild goose chase for a dress that apparently doesn’t exist. And it helps that all the fancy mens stores happen to be lined up on 3 or 4 blocks. All nicely in a row for us to walk quickly in and out of each store, thanks New York- that sure was helpful.
In an hour we went to J Press, Paul Stuart, J Crew, Jos. A Bank, Tie Bar, Saks, and a million other stores. Who knew there were so many beautiful tie possibilities! And so few bow ties! There’s just not as ‘in’ as the skinny tie right now, so every store we went into did have a good, but much smaller selection of bow ties. But still waiting on the verdict of whether they are wedding worthy. Definitely reception ready.
Of course, Peter still home went home with 2. (I guess I had several backups for my dresses). Then on to Cole Haan to buy wedding shoes. I took pictures, and really want to share them- but they’re sort of too exciting that the only was they can be properly revealed is as a groom walking down the aisle. So I’ll try to keep them a secret for now.
Then cousin Julian and his gf Emily came in from University of Connecticut. After a little tour of Peter’s apartment, we headed to Veselka, the Ukrainian restaurant in East Village. It’s the more relaxed, 24 hour version of their other namesake. Started by war refuges in 1954, the owner Wolodymyr Darmochawa named it for the Ukrainian word “Rainbow”.
The menu is filled with a wide variety of handmade pierogies, stuffed cabbage, kielbasa, goulash, and other soul foods. I ordered matza ball soup, a potato and a cheese filled pierogie. Also, a drink named Cherry Lime Rickey- which turned out to be cherry syrup, seltzer, lime juice, and simple syrup. Pretty good.
Peter’s choice was not as good. Chocolate egg cream. Oddly named in that it has neither egg neither cream in it. Originating in Brooklyn, it used to have eggs in it. Now it’s just chocolate syrup, milk and seltzer. Sounds gross, huh? It was. Peter doesn’t waste food - and he drank the whole thing.
We ended the night with a bookstore and a chocolate overdose. I’ll fill you in tomorrow, I’m slipping into a rice krispies coma as we speak…
XO ZZ
P.S. I am aware and apologize for the many missing, mis-used and incorrectly spelled words. I write these quickly and tend to not read back through them. Is driving you crazy yet? Ok… I did that one on purpose. Sorry! I’ll try to be more careful!
A second-cousin-thrice-removed-in-law was in town this weekend, so we were invited to a day of food, mingling and celebrating a pregnancy.
The morning started off with me super annoyed. I made a reservation with a car rental place only 2 blocks away, the price was right, and they closed late. When I booked it, the site clearly said I could use a debit card to rent the car. Turns out, that only means at airport locations, and I can only PAY for the car with a debit. I need a credit card so that if I ran off to Long Island and didn’t return - I guess they could find me easier?
So we did some calling around and there was another car rental place, same price, same late closing time, only a few blocks away. Only we have to pick up the car on the west side! Twenty blocks away and across the park. Are you as annoyed yet as I was?
We take a cab over there, get the car, (which I now have to use my SSN to rent, is my identity going to be stolen??). This place only has a Town Car left. A 1998 Lincoln Town Car. I was so frantic I didn’t really comprehend what I would be driving until I saw it in person.
It’s now 2:15, and we are supposed to be at the airport at 2:10 to pick up Grandma. There’s nothing more I dislike than being late. Ok maybe public speaking. And roller coasters and heights. Cilantro, too. And being told I can use a debit card and then turns out I can’t. Ok, so there’s lots of things I dislike.
I’m weaving through the crowded, traffic ridden streets, doing my best to avoid bystanders and baby strollers, a la Lindsay Lohan. This was my first time driving in New York City and I was hoping my decision to pass on the $9 insurance was not idiotic.
Don’t worry, it all turned out fine.
Now, onto pictures of the great uncle’s house in Long Island. It’s a beautiful 4 story historic home (completely finished basement and attic). I was given the grand tour by a 10 year old, so a lot of what I learned was which closets were her favorite, how soft the bathmats were, and how excited she was over the newly flattened tv screens.
From someone who wasn’t selling me girl scout cookies, I learned that it’s 100 years old, many of the light fixtures are original to the home, and there is a walk-in vault downstairs- the combination still a mystery.
It’s hard to see what’s happening in this picture. It was that hard to comprehend it in person. Floor to ceiling in mirrors, including the ceiling being mirrored. I love a cooky bathroom.
On the child tour, I didn’t take any pictures, so I ran back through to get as many as I could last minute.
This was in the basement playroom, which had a faux window scene, complete with live hula dancer.
The upstairs informal living room, 1 of 3.
This room was fabulous. In any other home, it would look ridiculous and tacky, but somehow it fits here. What I really loved about the whole home, was the collection of travel souvenirs in the form of lamps, chandeliers and chatskis. I hope my travel items someday blend perfectly into my house. Unlike their current arrangement, as ineffective book ends.
(Paris, Copenhagen, Sweden)
Then we followed the GPS back home, which took us a new and exciting way. Even Grandma had never driven on the Throggs Neck Bridge.
The town car has been safely returned to it’s home, without scratches or dents. I’m so glad I didn’t waste that $9 on insurance! Suckers.
