A Family Dinner

My first major family dinner party. Three tables plus seventeen folding chairs made the night possible. This was a blast. Think they loved everything but the Brussels Sprouts. Add some Multipulciano, cheese and figs and a la familia contenta.

A View from the Uffiuzzi

A last minute Autumn trip to Florence with one of my nearest and dearest friends lent itself to the perfect American Thanksgiving in Italy. Hit the streets, browsed the markets, did my usual drive-by of the Uffuzzi all tied up with a Thanksgiving meal with an Americano Professore along the Otro Arno. Via Italia!

Halloween 2006

NYC and Halloween. Like Peas and Carrots. Not for the ill-prepared or for the faint-of-heart, this is the night when mass amounts of New Yorkers get serious and take on the fantasy challenge. This year there were a lot of cowboys with sheep. Strange trend. For me, I was a Nurse. Who knew the nurse thing was such a trigger? "Nurse, Nurse my heart is breaking....can you help?" Amusing. But next year, the stilettos may have to be put on hold - I am wearing flats!

On the side of innocence, living in the TriBeCa area around the holidays, especially Halloween is always a hoot, it's Mayberry. Parents walking arm in arm with a small child in costume and an Anne Geddes infant in the $1,000 stroller. Don't forget the Golden Retriever in tow. I find it amusing that children in this city trick or treat in retail stores. Going to the dry cleaner for a MaryJane? Hey, the Irish pub on the corner is handing out Mars Fun Snacks, better hurry. In these parts you can sign up at the front desk of your building to let the neighborhood know that you are willing to accept trick or treaters! Ha! I can't even imagine if growing up there was a gatekeeper of the list of Halloween celebrators. What happens to the violators?

Walking Up to the Fog Horn

Living on the water is one of my favorite things about living in New York City. The creaking of the floating dock against the landing. The gentle sway of water against the river piles. The bleeting fog horns in the wee hours. And when I roll over to look out side and see a yellow tug boat it’s like a little morning sunshine-- regardless of the weather

Laying in bed, and actually being able to look in to the water is the perfect way to begin and end a day. Each morning my room fills with the most magnificent light and I have begun to be able to see the season change by the cast of natural light around my room.