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Monday In NYC: Expect The Unexpected

March 28, 2011 by Sandra Guirguis

It’s Monday. I woke up this morning with a crappy head cold generally feeling a little under the weather. It is still freezing here in the city, even if the the sun is shining brightly. And there are a million (at least) things to do on my “to do” list. On the positive side, Ron is back from a ten day trip and the household is back to normal. After a quick tea with the ladies, I headed down to Trader Joe’s to grab a few items. My mind was a bit foggy and I was daydreaming a bit, trying to think of what I would write a post on this morning. And then I saw this:

Alligators in the NYC sewers?!

Just another day in the city 😉

Right out front of the Trader Joe’s on W. 72nd street is where this advertising display is set up. If you walk by too quickly you might miss it, thinking that it is just another detour due to sidewalk construction. Hilarious.

And then it got me thinking. There is always something going on in NYC. No matter how mundane an errand you are running you are bound to find something interesting to look at or experience. You never know what you will wake up to. This really is part of the allure of this city. Walking down the street is always entertaining. No wonder I am easily distracted by shiny objects, there is always something to tantalize the senses.

I wasn’t the only one who stopped to admire the display, a few other non-jaded types where also taking pics. One guy even commented that it had made his Monday morning. Mission accomplished. After all, we all need something to talk about besides the weather, don’t we?

Have a great day!

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Yep, I am complaining about the weather…

March 25, 2011 by Sandra Guirguis

I know, I know, we are all sick of winter weather but hey, it IS spring. What happened? Why am I still wearing boots, gloves and a big puffy coat? Since I just recently moved from Ottawa, Canada, I should be used to a never ending winter. The problem is, last Friday it was 70 degrees and the whole city just seemed to take a deep sigh of relief. There was a bounce in people’s step, smiles were shared and the city seemed to have a whole renewed sense of energy.

And then Monday came and the temperatures plunged. The days following were filled with sleet, hail, rain, snow and gloomy skies. Just like the temps, people’s attitudes and outlooks dropped too. There was grumbling and groaning and not just from me. Once again all we could talk about was the weather. The general consensus is that Mother Nature is cruel, very cruel. My daughter’s even started whining about the weather. R said “this is NOT the way spring is supposed to be” and A said “I thought if it came in like a lion, it was supposed to go out like a lamb”. Indeed.

I know it could always be worse. Given what is happening around the world, I should probably just suck it up. I also know that in a few months we will be complaining about how HOT we are and how there is no relief from the heat. That is just the way it goes. Canadians are NOT the only people who like to talk about the weather 😉

The thing is, is that I am getting really impatient for actual spring like weather in NYC. Everyone keeps telling me how incredible New York is in the springtime. How it is their favorite time of the year. I can’t wait. I want to experience it. Just like everyone else, I am tired of the drab winter boots, I want to break out the new spring sneakers and dare I say it, the mighty flip flop. I want patio drinks and walks through Central Park while everything is in bloom. Long walks in the sunset…=)

Alright, enough ranting for today. After all, it IS Friday and the sun IS shining (even though it is freezing out) so I will leave you with all with WARM wishes and positive vibes. May the company you keep, be all the warmth you need. xoxo

Cold weather isn't bothering them...

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Wordless Wednesday: I Am Speechless…

March 23, 2011 by Sandra Guirguis

Today is a truly miserable day in the city. There is a mixture of rain and snow. The temperatures are cold and the skies are gloomy. In an attempt to escape the urge to hibernate in the apartment all day I headed over to Barnes & Noble. It was there that I found the following display. Enjoy the pic. I remain speechless on the subject. Have a wonderful day, S 😉

Help us...

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Delicious!! A Trip to Carlos (The Cake Boss) Bake Shop

March 21, 2011 by Sandra Guirguis

I am not a big fan of reality t.v. I have never watched a full season of American Idol and shows like The Bachelor/Bachelorette make me run and open a good book. Don’t even get me started on my thoughts about Jersey Shore… So, it is a bit strange that the latest program that I am hooked on is The Cake Boss on TLC. I seem to have developed a bit of a crush on Buddy and his whole passionate Italian family and co-workers. Unlike other reality t.v., there is something incredibly genuine about this show and the people in it. I love the real relationships, emotions and I have to admit, I am fascinated by the amazing artistic masterpieces (cakes) that they create each week.

So, I decided that my latest adventure would be to Hoboken, New Jersey to visit the very bakery itself. Why? Well, why not is the better question. I figured that we lived so close that it would be a perfect opportunity to make a little day trip out of it and go and see what all of those incredible pastries, cookies and cakes would look like in real life 😉 I persuaded two of my friends Meilan and Cass to go with me and so this past Friday we embarked on our little journey to Carlos City Hall Bake Shop.

After a little bit of confusion in the Madison Square Garden/Penn Station area we eventually found the PATH train to New Jersey and hopped on for the quick 15 minute commute to Hoboken, NJ.

The PATH train to New Jersey leaving 33rd St.

Once we arrived in Hoboken, we made our way to the main street in town, Washington Street. It was pretty easy to figure out where Carlo’s Bake Shop was as there was already a nice little line forming in front of the bakery. It was a glorious morning and the afternoon temps promised to be in the 70’s!! A perfect day to stand on line and people watch. There seemed to be people from all over the US and various parts of the world (even Canada!) waiting to get in. The locals were used to the crowds and largely ignored the ever increasing line. Although, one cute young gentlemen did offer to help us jump the queue by going in with him. Apparently if you have a driver’s license that shows you are local you get to go to the head of the line. Nice perk! We politely declined as we wanted to get the “full” experience.

Cass, Me and Meilan waiting patiently =)

Carlos City Hall Bake Shop

Window Display

Wow, every little girl's fantasy cake!

We are almost in!!!

After waiting on line for about 50 minutes, we entered the bakery where you are immediately overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle as well as all of the delicious smells and sights to behold. We were a little worried that we would not have time to figure out what we wanted but soon realized that it would be a bit of a wait before our number was actually called. It was quite the experience just watching the women and men behind the counter package pastries, cakes and cookies. To say that they are efficient is a huge understatement. The only down side is that it is still very crowded in the shop making it difficult to see all of the amazing displays. We quickly assessed the situation, figured out our order and then like true New Yorker’s (!) found a spot to wait for our number to be called and watched the organized chaos and insanity unfold. Living in Manhattan and dealing with deli lines at Zabar’s and Fairway helps to prepare you for situations like these. We were a lot calmer than most!

Beautiful Cakes

On display in the bakery

Lots to look at while you are waiting

My favorite!

Working their magic

Decisions, decisions...

20 minutes later it was time to place our order. Together we purchased 6 cupcakes, 5 brownies, 24 cookies, 1 lobster tail, a cannoli and a mug. Truly, a successful visit. The lobster tail (thanks for the tip, Whit!) made all of the standing in line worth it, it was OMG good! Overall, it was a great experience, we even had a couple of brushes with fame or reality t.v. as they came in to shoot a small segment while we were waiting and I was able to get a photo op with Buddy’s gracious sisters.

TLC filming Mauro in the bake shop

Me, Maddalena and Grace

After our bake shop experience we continued down Washington Street to find a place for lunch. We enjoyed a lovely Italian meal and excellent conversation. As we headed back to the train in the early afternoon sunlight we passed the bake shop again. The line had tripled in size! By my estimation people would be waiting for approximately three hours, just to get in!! I am not sure if I would be that dedicated. Although, that lobster tail was pretty delicious…

The day was a wonderful mini escape from the city with some fabulous friends, I am already planning our next adventure 😉 Also, we were definitely the most popular moms on the playground with our batch of cookies to share. Will I be going back soon? Well, the thing is, my oldest daughter has started to watch “The Cake Boss” with me and has decided that she would like a Carlos Bake Shop cake for her next birthday. Uh oh. I can only imagine the cake that she is dreaming up. I think we had better go back to watching “Phineaus and Ferb”!!

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Wordless Wednesday: Midtown, Hell’s Kitchen and Beyond…

March 16, 2011 by Sandra Guirguis

Yesterday the girls had a half day of school due to parent teacher conferences. They wanted to do something “fun” so we planned a trip to go and see The Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum. Here are some pics that I took on our walk to and from the famous aircraft carrier. Hope you enjoy our latest adventure…

The NYTimes Building

Port Authority

Looking up 8th Avenue

City Scene

.99 for a slice- can't beat that!

Heading to the Lincoln Tunnel

Croatian Church

Brand New High Rise Living

Funky Park (with Astro-Turf) in the middle of the Concrete Jungle

Looking up, waaaay up!

Dreaming of warmer temperatures?!

The Mighty Intrepid

A great view of midtown from the flight deck

Top Gun!

Heading towards Hell's Kitchen

Double the advertising, double the fun???

Local Tavern

Street View (46th St.)

Looking across the street with the skyline of midtown in the distance

My curious little New Yorker

Pausing to watch...

A pick-up game in a local park

Shoes worn in various Broadway shows

LaDuca Shoes

More Street Views

Heading back to the subway and home!

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A Little Friday Afternoon Reflection

March 11, 2011 by Sandra Guirguis

When I first woke up this morning, I was feeling a little grumbly and grumpy. Sure, it was Friday but the weather was rainy, my head hurt and I really had nothing to look forward to except cleaning the bathrooms. And then I started reading the news updates on my phone and found out that overnight a devastating earthquake had hit Japan and more tragedy would follow due to the impending tsunamis. Bam! It threw everything else into perspective pretty darn quickly.

So, for the rest of the day I promised myself I would try a bit of a different approach and look at things positively and remember how truly fortunate I am. I went to a literacy meeting at the girls school and was reminded of what an amazing, caring and supportive learning environment it is. The teachers and staff are always moving forward to find new ways to help and encourage the students. The parent community is incredible. As I walked to the meeting and greeted many a smiling face I felt a sense of belonging. The girls are definitely in the right place.

Afterwards I had the time to go and have coffee with a group of intelligent, funny and supportive ladies. We laughed, talked, argued and debated about the many things going on in the world around us. One of the women, a talented Children’s author, read an excerpt from her latest book, the message making me vow to have a wee bit more patience with my children- thanks Jill 😉

As I exited the coffee shop the sun was peeking through the clouds and I made a quick stop at the grocery store before heading home. I paused for a moment and took in all the sights, sounds and smells around me. Which was all good, until the sewer smell hit me and forced me to move on- it IS NYC after all =) At home I prepped dinner and put it in the slow cooker. A small victory for me as I have an extremely hard time resisting the urge to order take-out on Fridays. I talked to an old friend on the phone and then I took the dogs for a walk. All the while, forcing myself not to get caught up in the panic of all the things that still had to get done. Reminding myself that the “to do” list will still be there tomorrow.

I guess I am just trying to slow down a bit today and take the time to really appreciated all of the important things and people around me. Taking the extra time to wish people “have a good weekend” or hold the door open. To not be soo caught up in my life that I forget what is going on around me. Life is precious. There are examples of this everyday, you only have to turn on the news to remind yourself of this message. Today I am going to hold my family and friends just a bit tighter and say an extra prayer for those that are suffering around the world. Today I am going take the time to pause and be thankful.

Just in case you needed a Friday laugh! (Thank you Chantal)

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Wordless Wednesday: A Trip to the DMV

March 9, 2011 by Sandra Guirguis

Yesterday, I finally bit the bullet and went to the DMV office located at Herald Square. It was time to surrender my Ontario driver’s license to get my NY State driver’s license. Two hours later, I left, officially licensed to drive in New York and I promptly got on the subway 😉 Ironically, this trip to the DMV made our move to NYC finally seem official and very real. I now have a permanent piece of ID that has my picture and our address in NYC on it. We live here. Wow. It may finally be sinking in.

But, enough about me and back to Wordless Wednesday. While I was on my way to Herald Square I walked down the very famous 34th St. and took a few pics. Hope you enjoy them. Happy Wednesday!

The view of the mighty Empire State Building as you exit the subway

34th and 7th

Crosswalk

The morning rush

Macy's

Walking across 34th, in the shadow of the Empire State Building

34th and Broadway

Getting ready to get "on line"- ugh, two hours later...

Freedom! And Macy's 😉

Street Vendor

The ever present tour bus... hop on/hop off

Old Navy

For my Canadian friends =)

Love the blue sky behind the buildings

Getting ready to go back underground...

The 1,2,3 Line

Waiting on the platform

Penn Station- Heading back Uptown

Home Sweet Home!

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Holy F*%K, I Live in NYC!!

March 7, 2011 by Sandra Guirguis

The thought always hits me at the strangest times. I will be walking down the street, notice my shoelace is untied, bend down, tie my shoe, look up and think “Whoa, I live in New York City!”. It has been nine months since the big move and I guess just like it takes nine months to ease into the fact that you are having a baby, it has taken me the same amount of time to adjust to the whole living in NYC thing. And Manhattan is one helluva a baby! 😉 I have gained confidence, explored the neighborhood, learned the fine art of grocery shopping, am able to successfully walk two dogs down a crowded street, made new friends and most importantly I am adjusting to life as a stay at home mom/wife. But, every once in a while, usually while doing something totally mundane like laundry, I stop dead in my tracks and think “NYC, seriously??!!”.

A night out in the City

This city is awe inspiring. Every day I walk down my block and notice something new and different. I am not exaggerating. This city is also hard, fast and unforgiving. Surrounded by millions, it can feel incredibly lonely. At the same time it is welcoming, vibrant and alive. There are good days and bad days, just like anywhere. I have asked a few of my friends who have lived here for a long time if the feeling of awe about living here ever truly goes away and the answer is no. Even when the rain is whipping sideways and the wind is howling, you only have to look up to see the strength and beauty in the surrounding buildings.

The New York (a new building by Frank Gehry)

There are many people I have spoken to who are ready to get out of the city. They have had enough. We of course, are in the honeymoon period, looking at everything through bright, new, positive eyes. Not jaded… yet. I hope we never become bitter and hard in our attitudes. If we start to feel that way I will know that it is time to leave. That the love affair has ended. But right now I am enjoying being caught up in all that the city has to offer, even the realities that can sometimes seem overwhelming. I feel extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to live here and partake in all of the incredible experiences NYC has to offer. It is never boring. Always changing. Full of adventure. Exactly where I want to be.

Learning the ropes to be a New Yorker 😉

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Wordless Wednesday: A Walk Uptown

March 2, 2011 by Sandra Guirguis

Took a little walk uptown today in the beautiful sun. It is soo wonderful to feel the hint of spring in the air. Here are some pics I took along the way, enjoy!

Church at Amsterdam & 86th

Wall Art

Old & New

100th and Columbus

Heading on Up- Street View

More Street Views

Corner Store

Columbus and 110th

The back of St. John The Devine Church

Walking along Morningside Park

Apartments overlooking Morningside Park

View of Harlem

University bound...

Columbia University Library

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Weekend Adventures

February 28, 2011 by Sandra Guirguis

Phew, what a week, topped off by a fabulous weekend. The girls were on winter break, Chantal was visiting and it was Ron’s birthday. The weekend started out on Thursday night when Chantal and I ventured to Madison Square Garden to see Bon Jovi. The tickets were a Christmas present from the fabulous Ron and I was very much looking forward to rocking out as well as scoping out the crazy people still stuck in the 80’s. I dragged Chantal along with me promising that there would be lots to see and by reminding her of the simple fact that everyone should have an opportunity to see a concert at MSG! We were not disappointed. The show was amazing (Jon Bon Jovi still has IT!) and there were plenty of rocker gals/guys to check out. The woman sitting beside us was wearing her concert t-shirt from her first Bon Jovi concert at MSG in 1987 and she knew every single lyric to every single song. Now that is true dedication. My favorite part of the evening was the encore performance of “Living On A Prayer”. The entire crowd was on their feet singing together, a pretty incredible experience to be a part of.

Chantal and I getting ready to rock it!

The blurry "yes, that is him" must put in concert pic

On Friday night we called in a babysitter and actually had the thrill (parents will understand the special treat that this is) of going out to see a movie and then for drinks and tapas. We went and saw the movie “I Am Number Four”. Both Ron and I have just finished reading the book and wanted to see the movie. It was good, not amazing but definitely entertaining. As always, the book is way better. After the movie we went to a great new wine bar in the ‘hood called Tolani. I think it is going to become one of our new favorite places to go and hang out. The food is good and the wine selection is interesting. Love the atmosphere.

On Saturday we took advantage of Chantal visiting (hello free babysitting) and Ron and I went out for his birthday to David Burke Townhouse. I am still full thinking about the delicious meal I experienced there. Ron started off with the foie gras and then had the special Lobster Risotto as his main. I had the market salad to start and the Braised Ribs with Cavatelli as my main. We shared the drunken donuts as our dessert. Unbelievably yummy. The best part of the evening was being able to sit and have a conversation just the two of us. Heavenly. The evening stroll through Central Park was not too shabby either.

Ron and I thought the stretch limo waiting outside for the smokers convenience was hilarious. After all, standing outside for a smoke is soo passe!

Giant flowers on Park Ave.

Ahh… Sunday, the day of rest. Yesterday we spent the day going to church and getting organized for the reality of the upcoming week. However, the weather was beautiful and we took advantage of it by taking the dogs and the girls to the park. There was definitely a hint of spring in the air.

The sun shining over Central Park

The girls first scooter ride of the season

In a lot of ways I am glad that Monday has arrived and that the girls are back to school (including Chantal) Ron is at work and I am on a cleaning/laundry/grocery spree. Back to normal. Or as normal as life can be in the Big Apple 😉 Now, I wonder if there is time for a nap…

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