New York Moments...in a New York Minute!!!

New York Moments...in a New York Minute

Once I arrive in New York Um... Where do I hang out? I mean specific places, What gives New York? Never really had this problem before... Ideas? Local events and venues?

Thank God a girlfriend of mine met me. I called her up and she came to my rescue! My Girlfriends are all attractive, intelligent, smart, fun, women but we always find ourselves in situations where we get to be ourselves and chat it up and always always have fun!

First, we went to Gigimo's at Wagner Park, to have lunch. Looking out to the Statue of Liberty, We begin drinking champagne and admiring the view then we rush off to go somewhere else.

The architecture in the city is absolutely incredible. I couldn’t get over how old many of the buildings are and what unbelievable character they have!ave.

The new One World Trade Center is not completely built and yet will be 1,776 feet when complete. Wow!

There are a LOT of taxi’s in NYC (one cab driver told us over 13,000!) and they are all yellow. Trains and the Subway can be a great way to travel in New York City, they offer convenient, affordable access to the city without the hassle or expense of a cab. This is a must because flattering to your derriere and undeniably glamorous as they may be, heels have a little nickname here in New York: cab to curb. Although prancing down Madison Avenue ducking in and out of places like Ladurée and Céline perfectly ensemble’d in a sexy stiletto sounds fabulous in theory, realistically the important thing to remember is that not much walking can be done in heels, and New York is a city based just on that.

While Grand Central Terminal is one of the nations most historical landmarks, it has remained the busiest train station in the country. Today, people from all over arrive here. Love It!

OMG! Times Square, the most bustling square of New York it's known for many Broadway theatres, cinemas and electronic billboards. It is one of those places that make New York a city that never sleeps. I love the energy there!One day I'm going to be at time square on New Years Eve and get a kiss right at midnight.

You’ve got to have one helluva job to afford to even live in New York, let alone in a place bigger than a dorm room. Things like regularly dining out, grabbing exorbitantly priced cocktails at the hottest new clubs, and snapping up the latest pair of Jimmy Choos add up quickly on top of that rent, so let me just repeat: one helluva job!

The Perfect Manhattan cocktail is a classic Mojito ... Us girls need a fabulous drink to sip on while we are out and about. I need a drink because I LOVE that pink python bag at Céline!Well..... There I am Standing on Broadway With every label that goes in and out of my wardrobe on high rotation (remember, This is an addiction for me) at my fingertips. Topshop, Calvin Klein, Jean-Paul, Giorgio and flagship fashion house boutiques Prada, Hermès and Chanel and to Kick things off at Fratelli Rossetti on 58th Street for fab Italian shoes, and be sure to leave some time for the grand finale at the stately Polo Store on 72nd Street. Plan B: (I always have a Plan B) Need to get it all in a hurry? Fifth Avenue is where you'll find the high-end department stores (Bergdorf's, Bendel's, Saks) carrying all the names you need. Plus a few that you won't find on Madison (Versace, Fendi, Ferragamo).

Besides the fabulous Majito's, that are not so flattering to your derrière is a Cherry-dipped vanilla cone from a Mister Softee truck, Upper West Side, New York is undeniably the best! Yummy!!!

We sipped champagne at the iconic champagne bar at the The Plaza it is one of Manhattan luxury hotels --a national historic landmark with a standout location on the southeast edge of Central Park. From the doorstep of this 5-star property, you can hop into a horse-drawn carriage for a romantic ride around the park. Or if you prefer, shop 'till you drop I kinda like that too, you know, right?

Wow!! Just wow!!! We went to the Nobu on 57th ...and I'm so glad that we did. The restaurant is gorgeous, everything was off-the-charts!!! OMG! We're spoiled.

I've had other fantastic trips - some might even be bigger or more important trips. But for me, New York is the one place that always makes me think of Old Hollywood glamour and I, for one, am ready for a little more glitz and glam! I was super excited to see the longest running show in the history of Broadway, The Phantom of the Opera at the Majestic Theater.

What a whirlwind of a trip! I can’t believe how much we were able to pack into a four day trip. Whew.

New York truly was a magical place to visit and I’m very thankful to have had the opportunity to visit. I don't have any answers, yet..... I just know the feeling that life is so perfect and my "you made it that way feeling" - isn't confined to New York City, and that if I can have it there I can have it anywhere.

How about you? Is NY somewhere you’ve always wanted to visit?

I’m not 100% sure I have my priorities straight?

I’m not 100% sure I have my priorities straight.

I am trying to pack for a trip to New York (which makes me feel really, really good) and am pretty much having an existential crisis because I’m trying to keep my packing to one checked and one carry on items only. And I am FAILING. Horribly.

Why?

Shoes.

In New York I will be meeting with important type people. And will have to wear clothing of the business variety. 

What I have realized is, I have either not enough, or too many shoe options.

See.. all my outfits require slightly different types of shoes. And I don’t have space for all of them. But I don’t have any sort of Neutral shoes that go with everything.

So I’m either packing four shoes in addition to whatever I’ma be wearing on my feet or I just go barefoot and tell people I’m a hippie.

Which is a really, really bad idea in New York because, while it’s super awesome there, the sidewalks are nasty. I'm  always worrying about the important things.

So I’m surrounded by a bunch of really pretty, not at all practical shoes and I’m trying to figure out if I can ask my hubby to carry three pairs of shoes for me without getting in a convo about me needing so many shoes.

Oh You Fancy Huh –Progressive Dinner Party

Oh You Fancy Huh –Progressive Dinner Party

Especially when I hear Drake ask if I am… Don’t get me wrong, I am!

 I volunteered to host a portion of a dinner party at my home 

Well, I brainstormed a lot of new tastes and flavors I wanted to impress my dinner guests with. I made a list of “fancy” recipes and dishes I wanted to research for my dinner party. I even asked the ladies while at the golf Clinc at www.hawksridge.com

Then, I realized two things:

1. I can't cook! The cooking challenge for a dinner party is not easily overcome since my darling hubby would not arranged for a Chef.  The only thing to do is host the Drink's and 

hors d’oeuvres  portion of the Progressive Dinner.  

But, I refuse to pretend to be anything but myself. I am fully open and honest with my flaws (probably a little too much, but I digress).

2. This Dinner is Saturday and I really only have a day or two to plan, shop, prepare, drink and host. 

I am  super crazy busy right now and didn’t have a chance to even review the challenge before my girlfriend Christina called and we had to meet for lunch and cocktails.

Life is complicated. Food and my drinks are not. Don’t read too much into it.

A super-deluxe, elegant dinner party primarily takes careful planning. Let me tell you about how I accomplished it, and exactly how I went about it. and it worked like a charm!

You've tackled the table and the tipples but where's my Pinot Grigio?

I had to consider several phases so that I could manage it with a maid (if I were only lucky enough to get one) or to cope with it all by myself. Another angle to consider was the mechanics of the affair — what to


serve and where, don't forget the lighting. Candles are always perfect for lifting the mood. And, they can "hide a multitude of sins".


By arranging a dinner party where different courses are served in different homes, it removes so much of the stress and strain and you can truly enjoy yourself. Half of our concern, I think, is the desire to have the party run smoothly. With this method you can’t fail to have an apparently effortless dinner party.


Needless to say, a progressive dinner party must be a gastronomic delight. But it must also have some dash and originality about its presentation, Manage the mood and there should be no clichés anywhere — in the menu, in the decor, or, we hope, in the conversation!


The real secret to a good dinner party is alcohol and lots of it!


Made-up, manicured and coiffed, we celebrate all things like a diva


I know, right? It’s almost too easy…

You know I would never utter an ugly word about my guests, but I think you might enjoy to hear some of the snippets of conversation from the Wine and H'ordorves to keep it even more hilarious, Enjoy!


“I hate that sushi place. The people there are douchey. It’s Douchey Sushi!”


“Don’t act surprised that people are entertained by me”

“I can sing"


"I really liked the first wife"

“If someone patted me on the butt like that, I would go right to sleep”


“She doesn’t when I do it”


“You’re not doing it right”


“We brought a bottle of good wine…and a bottle of plonk”


"Excuse me while I burp"


“How do you just chat people up. It’s magic, isn’t it?”


“Part of the solution, part of the solution.”


"When you’re here, you’re family. You know, like the Olive Garden”


“You could always supplement your income by hooking”


“Hooking?!”


“Yes, hooking”


"We hosted the football tailgate party"

It was an evening of good company and great food!

Because I'm NICE!!!!

What the *&#% happened to today???

Today was insane. Completely and utterly insane. It went by so fast that I’m a little bit worried I’m in a coma and that all this is a dream and its actually still June 2011 and I’ve been hit by a car because I ran in to traffic to avoid my godawful day. I think I’m like the priceline negotiator. He just hands shit out right? His boss should just fire him….. I’m going to tell you guys my shameful secret.


I’m a TERRIBLE Listener/negotiator. Yep that means I’m super good at TALKING!


Because I’m nice!


I hear you talking but I already know what you’re about to say so I’m gonna keep talking….bla bla bla bla Emily Post is rolling in her grave. She is the one who judges bad manners right? Yeah! She’d be mighty pissed.

O. Happy Day!

I love Progressive Dinners, a lingering meal spiced with much socializing and drinking. They are so much fun! So I agreed to host the appetizers and drink portion of our “Neighborhood progressive Dinner” When I am preparing to host a dinner party the first thing I do is set the tone for the party. This is a casual dinner party right? 

O. my gosh.  How fantastic! Simple yet spectacular!!!!! Can’t be much for me to prepare?

PROGRESS!

Progress! Let's drink to that! 

MIAMI... i think.

This is just a test. I am in Miamiland with Christina!!!! Gotta fly back home before my hubby gets off of work. We have yoga tonight. XOXO! Janet