NYC evening with a friend

On Memorial Day weekend, my husband and I drove to NYC for a three-day mini-vacation getaway.  It was the first time Emilu was away from us. My parents had flew in to stay with her and our dog.  We arrived on Sat. around 4 p.m. and I immediately met with my friend, a fashion blogger, for lunch in the East Village.  We walked around and caught up with our lives.  We stopped for espresso, then hopped over to Greenwich to grab a cupcake from Magnolia.  I had always wanted to try one but the lines are always too long. 

This time there wasn't a line.  I got a key lime pie mini cake, and it was delicious.  No kidding around, it tasted like the ones back in Florida (the key is key limes and sweetened milk). We sat in an adjacent park enjoying our treat. Later, we encountered the wall of Tiles for America on the corner of 7th Street, the first memorial to the victims of the September 11th attacks.  This city for all its rudeness, is quiet emotional and full of gratitude for the men and women who perished helping in the aftermath of the attacks. New Yorkers will never forget.

Later in the evening we sat down in a corner bar, enjoyed a couple of glasses of wine and realized we were both lucky beyond measure.  We had our health, our faculties, and our families' love and support.  We live in cities we both love. The rest is icing on the cake.  We ended in Starbucks and around 10:30 p.m I grabbed a cab to our hotel in the Financial District, right in front of ground zero.

Summer travel: Hoboken + a pier playground

About three weeks ago we went up to NY to visit my brother and his wife.  Early on Saturday morning, the temperature was above the triple digits, but we crossed two rivers (from Brooklyn to Hoboken, NJ) and skipped Manhattan this time.  And although it was extremely hot, we managed to enjoy the view.  

The really cool playground, called Pier C is on a small pier across from Manhattan's Battery Park area.  Although the skies were hazy with heat, lower Manhattan was still very visible. The eco-friendly playground is surrounded by tall trees and other vegetation, which helps in keeping it cooler than its surroundings. 

So long, Hoboken, stay pretty!

Weekend outings with a friend

A couple of weeks ago, my good old friend, who lives in NYC stayed with us for the weekend.  We had so much to talk and gossip about.  It was restorative to have her around, because my days can be tiring and sometimes, overwhelmed with routine stuff.  I took her to the farmer's market, Eastern market and flea, and to long walks around our neighborhood.  It was pretty low key, but we both needed this relaxation.  Here are a few pictures of that weekend.

 I love our green market.  The produce is always fresh and tasty, seasonal and local.  This past weekend we bought some amazing plums, peaches as always, or until they run out, nectarines, and the usual:  fresh, real cage-free eggs and some artisan bread.   Thanks for visiting, dear old friend.