A curly haired knitter speaks from NYC
Portrait of a Young Girl with Her First Fish.
Yes, Her First Fish. Caught in the wilds of New Hampshire. Life has been good around here this summer. What with the vacationing, the fishing, and the museum going, and the deliciousness of doing nothing at all, life for us has been good.
Here's to more of the good life for our family, heck, for everyone.
Wish you were here.
Ahh summer. What better time to go to the museum? At Chez CurlsandPurlsNYC, we have been to many a museum this summer. Many. A. Museum. This summer's favorite: the American Museum of Natural History. Photo opportunities abound. I call this one, " Girl with Beloved Triceratops in the Dark."
I call this photo, "Picture of Chinese New Year Dragon in the Mythic Creatures Exhibit Before Being Yelled at by Security Guard for Taking Picture." Phew! That was a close one!!
Wish you were here.
PS! Knitting updates and photos next week. Promise. Maybe even a finished object.
In NYC, the street is the stage. The Stage. On any given day, I never, EVER, know what I might see, encounter, or stumble upon as I walk down the street. In the past few weeks I have seen: a woman dressed in full bridal attire hailing a cab in the middle of Broadway in the Flatiron District, assorted movie/television production sets, a ten dollar bill (I pocketed it!), a couple in an over the top passionate embrace (Get. A. Room), three circus clowns juggling, a great Dane in a tutu, a family of five on Razor Scooters zipping down the street in one straight liine, and this butterfly. And it was this butterfly that made me smile the most. It fluttered over my head for almost a block and a half and then got all coy and shy when I tried to take its picture. My mother LOVED butterflies and repeatedly told me to remember her always whenever I saw a monarch butterfly. Well, the truth is not a day goes by that I do not think of my mother, but on the days I see a monarch butterfly, it is like she is walking beside me. And I think on the day I saw that butterfly, I needed that. I really, really need that.
It is often said that when one door closes, another opens. Does the beauty of the door determine whether what awaits for you as that door opens is good or bad? If so, then as another chapter in my life comes to a close, I most certainly want this door to open for me. Keep your fingers crossed that what is inside is a good new beginning.
Banana bread, made from scratch. Recipe from The Gourmet Gazelle, a cookbook I bought a lifetime ago at the now defunct Shakespeare and Co. bookstore on the Upper West Side. Low fat and very tasty. I have been cooking and baking up a storm these days and enjoying it immensely. Part of this trend is due, in part, to my efforts to save money, the other because I want to eat healthier. Either way it is a win-win situation for our family.
I've got only a handful of cookbooks that I use and if I told you the titles, you would be surprised, maybe even amused. I am very partial to the Moosewood Cookbooks and anything by Deborah Madison. I am on the hunt for some new ones. If you've got a favorite let me know. I am especially interested in books that offer healthy and nutritious recipes.
Welcome summer and with summer comes the return of the Friday Postcard!
During a particularly dark period in my life, pre-Darling Daughter, of course, a dear friend once said to me, "find something beautiful every day, it will make you feel better." He was so right. The morning light makes this lovely historic block in Chelsea even more beautiful to me. A trip down this block always makes my day.
What something beautiful have you found today?
Scandinavia House! A jewel of a place in the heart of the Murray Hill section of NYC. The Official Word: Scandinavia House is the headquarters of The American-Scandinavian Foundation, an American non-profit organization that works to build cultural and educational ties between the United States and Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. The Unofficial Word: Fabulous. If you are a mom looking for great, fun, FREE place to take your kid on a bitter cold day or a blistering hot day or ANY day, then Scandinavia House is the place for you! Costumes!! A play stage!! Books on Scandinavian Culture!! Trains! Legos! Crayons! Ikea furniture! The children's rooms are a rare gem in NYC, offering so much for free. And, when you AND your little one tire of the play rooms, have bite to eat in the lovely dining area, shop a bit in the gift shop, or just sit and relax. Did I mention that we love it? We do. You will too!
Such talented friends!
The Plate: Naomi!!
The Silver Cast Heart Pendant: MJ!!
The Book: Ann and Kay!!
The Sisterhood Rules!!
To live in the groovy (and not so groovy) neighborhoods of NYC means that sometime, often times, most times, or every day a film crew will show up on the street where you live and take over for a few hours, days, weeks, or longer. Before you can say "roll 'em," notices go up declaring that the streets will be temporarily off limits to residents, dressing room trailers sprout up everywhere, craft service tables offer food to everyone but you, and people you have never seen before on your block are asking you to walk another way to work or play. And, maybe, just maybe, you might be permitted to get in the scene and be an uncompensated extra as you go about your merry way. In this curly haired knitter's experience, I have seen the filming of several films, television shows, and music videos. (Gremilins II !! Men in Black!!! Men in Black II !! Sex in the City!! And some hip hop guy I have never heard of!!) I love New York, especially when it is on location. Yes. Yes, yes, I do.
NYC has a ferris wheel? Indeed it does! And, if you are a kid who lives in my fair city, you know, or should know, or soon will know that the Toyrus store in Times Square is its home! So, imagine how the eyes of a small child light up first at knowing she is in a toy store and then at seeing this bright, gawdy, and boisterous ferris wheel. Too. Much. Fun. For Momma too!! Which way to the Playdoh?
On this day forty six years ago, a blogger was born! FORTY SIX!! GULP!! {Make that 46 gulps!!} Ahh, another birthday, another year I vow to be a better, thinner, smarter, stronger person. Upon reflection, maybe it is time that I accept myself as I am, for who I am really isn't so bad! No one is perfect, right?
Sing it with me, "Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me!"
Gung Hay Fat Choy!! Gung Hay Fat Choy!!
Here in the Little Apartment in the Big City, Jamie and I are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the New Year! Chinese New Year that is! This year, the 4703, is the Year of the Dog! We LOVE that it is the Year of the Dog!! [Why, well, for no particular reason other than WE LOVE DOGS!!]
In anticipation of this important holiday in Chinese culture, Momma has been cleaning up the apartment to get rid of all the bad luck [and to make room for all of the new luck that we hope/think/want for this year], putting flowers out, making sure we have enough oranges in the house, readying the red envelopes, and trying to decide WHERE we will eat dumplings and noodles and sip tea on Saturday night!! It is all so exciting!! I am so touched that so many old and new friends have shared their traditions with us. Jamie and I are most honoured.
So, to all of our friends we wish say again, Gung Hay Fat Choy!!!
NYC is at its BEST at the holiday season. Yep. The City gets all gussied up and glows, glitters, and glimmers like nothing you have ever seen. And, as for me this Christmas, showing Jamie all the holiday sights and sounds for the first time makes it all just a million times better. Last weekend we traveled uptown to Rockefeller Center and got a glimpse of the Great Christmas Tree. It was a sight to behold.
Oh, and so was the sight of My Girl enjoying her v. first candy cane. Really and truly.
File this photo under, "Personal History: CurlsandPurlsNYC." This is a door. Yes, a door. But, not just ANY door, rather, it is the door to my very first apartment in NYC -- Apartment No. 248 on a street somewhere in Chelsea. The year was 1984, I was in my second year of law school, and the apartment a small, dark, cork covered studio with a futon mattress (that one of my friends fondly referred to as "the crouton."). Back then, Chelsea was a different neighborhood -- gritty, undiscovered, and unglamorous -- a far cry from the hip, gentrified place it is today. And, man, did I think that was COOL. Not too far from my apartment was this v. cool bar that served HUGE frozen margaritas that came with lots of little drink toys floating in it and mardi gras beads. I completely forgot about this apartment and only remembered it when I accidentally walked past it the other day. It looks shabbier that it did back when I lived there, much to my surprise, and different, although I cannot say how. "Did I really live here once, " I asked myself. Yes. Yes. Yes. I did.
If you have ever been on Weight Watchers, you know that the bagel is the enemy. One delicious, crispy on the outside, moderately soft on this inside bagel is equal to eight Weight Watcher points. Eight points is ALOT of points, and for some, it is a third or more of one's daily point allowance. For eight points one could eat a 2% plain greek yogurt, a banana, and still have three points left over for a Starbucks tall nonfat skim latte. When it comes to the bagels at Murray's Bagels in Chelsea, a Weight Watcher member must ponder this question: is less more or is more less? When it comes to a Murray's Bagel, I think less is more!! These bagels are by far my favorite EVER!! My bagel of choice? Poppy. If I am feeling virtuous, I order a "Poppy bagel dry." [Dry? A bagel and only a bagel!]. If I am living on the dieter's edge, I order it with butter. If I am flirting with permanent residence in Fatsoville, I order it with cream cheese...and some days, it is really, really worth the rent!
Mott Street! If you are on Mott Street, you are in Chinatown!! I love Chinatown, for it is one of the few places in NYC where Ifeel like a tourist. And I love that!! In Chinatown, I wander down narrow winding streets, munch on delicious ginger candies, buy Moon Cakes, baby bok choy, fresh seafood, bean thread noodles, and snoop, snoop, snoop! I poke my head into the most interesting shops and interrogate the owners! (What is this? What does this taste like? How do I cook this? How much is this?)
I LOVE NY. But hey, you already knew that, didn't you?
Although most New Yorkers like to think that they are the least patriotic of all US citizens (ok, well maybe just my friends think that) when it comes to the July 4th holiday, we know how to do it up right! And doing it up right for July 4th means FIREWORKS!! I love fireworks!! Throngs of people clammer on the shores of the East River, rooftops, tall buildings, any and all high places, as well as on the East River itself to get a prime spot to view the evening fireworks. They are a glorious sight! A few years ago I had a prime seat in an office at the UN!! The colours!! The bright lights!! The explosions! The zooming and booming of it all!! Glory days. Or should I just say, glorious evening!
Happy July 4th, from my city to yours!
T! A tea salon and emporium! Nesteled away on a sidestreet in the Flatiron or Gramercy Park area (or is it the Union Square area?) this little tea shop is a nice little retreat. The tea selection is just YUMMY and best of all, all the menu selections come with appropriate tea recommendations so that the guest is not overwhelmed by the many wonderful teas there are to choose from. It is a good place to meet a pal for a quiet and civilised snack or to sit, think, and knit by yourself. While it is NOT kid friendly, it is otherwise a welcoming place.
Treat yourself to a nice visit AFTER you settle up with the Tax Man!
[Music Cue: James Taylor, You've Got a Friend"] I call this photo, "Dog Posse." Meet Woofie and Squeaky, my Jamie's canine pals. Now, I am not becoming one of those overly sentimental Momma's (I have always been that) writing about my daughter's toys merely for the sake of writing about our humble family life. It's just that these two guys and the manner in which my daughter interacts with them CRACK ME UP!! Woofie and Squeaky are her constant companions, always within an arms reach, always ready for a hug at any moment. In the morning, when Jamie climbs into my bed for our morning cuddles, Woofie and Squeaky must come too. Before I can wipe the sleep out of my eyes, Jamie has comandeered my bed with her Dog Posse, blankets, and other kid ephemera. We have a nice little morning party as I turn on the clock radio so as to listen to NPR's All Things Considered and Jamie turns it off. Again. And again. And again. Cause and effect are a wonderful thing. As are good friends, of any feather. Or should I say fur?
It pays to have friends in high places, literally and figuratively. A visit to a friend's office not too long ago yeilded this photo. The building? The New York Life Insurance Building on lower Madison Avenue. It is a grand building. I don't know about you, but if this were the view I had outside my office window, I might spend a tad too much time gazing out my window rather than working with Windows on my computer.
[Cue to Theme Song: There's Always Something Happening at the Zoo. ] Field Trip!! Baby Jamie, myself, and Uncle Sam went to the Bronx Zoo last weekend to meet up with one of the families we traveled to China with! It was both a reunion and a field trip!! Yahoo!!! It was a fun day, even though most of the animals were absent because they were still enjoying their winter homes in Miami! For the most part, Baby Jamie was mesmerized by the animals that remained in residence. [If you were one of the people standing with us watching the gorilla family, yes that was Baby Jamie shouting out "DAT"!! "DAT'!!][Hope we weren't too loud]
We saw all sorts of creatures, both great and small:
While Baby Jamie sat all nice and snuggly in her MacLaren Chariot, I walked and pushed and walked and pushed. At the end of the day, after all that excerise, someone got to take a nap:
It wasn't me!!
I call this picture, "Baby Jamie Reads the Sunday Times." The weekends at the CurlsandPurlsNYC Household have a v. solid routine. We wake up early, Baby Jamie eats breakfast and Momma drinks lots of tea. Baby Jamie gets to watch Baby Einstein and Momma gets to read the Sunday New York Times. Well, parts of it anyway. [Reading Order: Style Section, Week in Review, Real Estate, City, and then the Main section][The rest of the paper is read at later parts of day or week] When My Girl surrepetiously got her hands on Momma's newspaper, she showed all of us how on target she is developmentally for tearing up paper. She ripped with such joy and gusto, that there was nothing I could say but, "Well done, darling, well done."
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Sorry for the utter lack of knitting posts this past week, but things here have been v. busy and I have had virtually no time to knit. Motherhood is a demanding gig. Not complaining, just saying.
In a place like NYC, it pays to be on the lookout ALL the time. And, that means looking ahead, behind you, to the left and the right, and down ALL THE TIME. Ok, well, not ALL the time, but be mindful that if you blink, you might miss something. Ditto if you fail to look to the left. Or right. In one of my latest wanderings around town, I found the above message painted on the sidewalk in various locations. Try as I might, I never did find the Hidden City. Was it a book? A movie? A new Dr. Seusslike municipality, with inhabitants smaller than the smallest speck of dust? I will never know. Do you?
In China, Baby Jamie and I had the honour of visiting a Buddhist Temple where Baby Jamie received a Buddhist Blessing. [I think that I was included, by proxy, in the Blessing, but I cannot be 100% sure.] At the temple, we came upon a nine floor pagoda! The significance? In Chinese culture, the nine floor pagoda is a symbol of good luck and good fortune. We basked in the penumbra of this nine floor pagoda, hoping to receive some sort of third party benefit. Turns out, according to our guide Connie, that once we became a family, we were bestowed with our own nine floor pagoda. How lucky can a new Momma and her Baby get?
Yes, Baby Jamie and I did go see The Gates. We came, we saw orange, we wore orange, and we conquered. Well, we didn't really conquer anything, but we did do a great deal of walking. Ok, I did all the walking [and pushing] while Baby Jamie sat v. warm in her stroller, tucked in her down snuggly to keep away the chills of winter. What did we think? We love public art! We love orange!! What more is there to say, except, "Farewell Orange Gates, Farewell."
Some days, when nothing goes right, a gal just wants to look at pretty things. On the day I took this picture, things were going right. I was in Beijing, waiting with great anticipation to meet Jamie. As I looked through the selection of pretty glass charms, I chose an orange one to wear on some red yarn [Debbie Bliss Cotton Angora, if you must know.] around my neck when I met Jamie. The idea was not mine, but rather, my friend Suzanne's, who recommended that we all wear something colourful around our necks for the babies to be distracted and/or soothed by in case they were distressed by the long trip they had to take to Guangzhou. When Jamie was brought in to meet me, there I was, waiting for her in a Chinese jacket with that orange charm around my neck. Jamie loved her Momma's orange charm on its red yarn, for she played with it throughout our first day together. And now, whenever I need to be soothed by something, I bring out that charm and gaze upon it, and remember the reason why I bought it.
A trip to New York City means many different things to many different people, in part, because there is something to do for everyone. If you are fond of poetry, the Bowery Poetry Club and Cafe just might be the place for you. Tucked away on Bowery, slightly above Houston, this cafe offers poetry affecionados a place to meet and greet, and of course, revel in poetry. Here you can have a coffee or a beer and sit back and enjoy any number of poetry readings and slams. Whatever you do, just don't go looking for a smoke filled evening remniscent of the Beat Poets, for NYC establishments such as this are now smoke free!!
The CurlsandPurlsNYC Household is proud to exclaim to anyone who will listen that it is a Chino-Italiano household! A lovely blend of asia and europe! So, you can imagine how happy I was to see at the Great Wall of China this lovely little cafe! In case you cannot read the sign it states: "The Original Italian Cafe"!!! Hmmm, the original? I will leave that question to the folks here in NYC who like to debate which "Original Ray's Pizzeria" really is the original. [Not. Me.][Are ya kiddin? It's the one on Sixth Avenue in the Village!!]
NYC gets all dressed up for the December holidays, seemingly moments after the dust from the Thanksgiving Day Parade settles! One day its Indians, Pilgrims and turkeys and the next day the halls are all decked with boughs of holly, dreidels, and Kwanza related decorations. I caught Luis dressing up a nearby church with garland and wreathes late last week. Actually, Luis caught me as I stood sniffing the fragrant seasonal bouquet of garland of evergreen that was draped on a wrought iron fence!! Fortunately, he didn't think I was too kooky and was kind enough to pose for a picture. There's something extra special in the air this season....and I hope it lasts for a long, long time.
NYC. Home of the grassroots protest march, among other things. As I ducked out of the side door of my apartment building last week to go to the gym, I found myself in the midst of a rather LARGE and QUIET protest parade, led by members of a Chinese religious group, the Fulan Gong. All I could hear on the street and later in my apartment that day as the protest wore on, was the steady gong, gong, gong of a lone drummer and the fall of rain. As I stood on my terrace and observed the activities on the street below me, a Dylan song ran through my head....for the times they are a changin'.
Ahh, you knew it was only a matter of time before I shared this picture didn't you? Macy's!! The self proclaimed largest store in the world! More importantly, it is also the host of the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade!! Marching Bands!! Theme floats!! Hundreds and thousands of participants. And, last but not least, the fabulous big cartoon character balloons. In years past, the parade has featured such beloved cartoon characters as Underdog, Snoopy, Garfield, Bart Simpson, and Spiderman! My favorite thing is to watch them being blown up the night before on the Upper West Side, a pre-Thanksgiving tradition and treat! Lucky me, if I stand on my terrace I can see the big balloons float down Broadway on the day of the parade!! I. Love. That.
Va Tutto!! A wonderful place where everybody knows my name! Ok, so they don't know my name. They do, however, know my face...and I get a warm welcome from the waitstaff every time I came back to this special little italian restaurant. Tucked away on Cleveland Street between Kenmare and Spring Streets, this restaurant a favorite of mine. The northern italian food is reasonably priced and always tasty. Ditto for the wine list. While I enjoy dining in the back garden in the warmer months, I especially enjoy the cozy and warm atmosphere inside in the colder months. It's a great place for both a dinner party or a date! I found this place most accidentally and all I can say is that I am glad that I did.
Dear Messrs Bush & Kerry:
While NYC may not be a place that either of you is courting with public appearances or issue ads, the people who talk about the candidates in this town are busy, busy, busy. And yep, they are talking about you and you!! [But clever men that you are, you knew that already, didn't you?][Grin] The Village Voice is no exception. The sentiment of its latest cover story -- "Sucking Democracy Dry" -- is hard to miss. Yes, the Village Voice, that weekly newspaper with a long history of liberal chat. In my humble opinion it is a conglomeration of smart, liberal [some may say ultra radical liberal] political and social commentary, and cultural where to. And, of course, I think it might also be the birthplace of the personal ad. It is indeed one of a kind. People love it or hate it with equal passion. As for me, well, I will let you come to your own conclusions as to where I stand in its appreciation, or on the issues that colour this election. I send this postcard as a plea to the victor -- a plea to remember how polarized we are as a nation in these days leading up to the election. A condition that most likely will not dissipate once the election is concluded. My hope, albeit a weak one, is that whoever wins this election will lead our nation mindful of this and not like Attila the Presidential Hun. And to the loser, well, I can teach you how to knit. After all, you are going to need something to do with all of your free time. [Bigger Grin]
Sincerely,
Elisabeth
a/k/a Voter CurlsandPurlsNYC
Indulge my romatic soul today for a bit will you? In my idealized world, those who strive to do good, fight for a worthy cause, or just bravely carry on in the face of adversity are rewarded eventually somewhere, somehow by someone. My ideal is embodied by this clock! In the Murry Hill section of Manhattan, every hour on the hour this gentle knave is rewarded by a compassionate and wise wizard for his noble efforts, whatever those efforts may be. If I were to have one wish for today, it would be for me to be the one bowing humbly before this wizard, anxiously awaiting the gentle tap of his wand upon my curly haired head.
"If not now? When?" I found myself in the midst of Herald Square not too long ago with these two questions screaming out to me for an answer. Truth be told, I have been asking myself these two questions alot lately, way before this window high above street level presented them in such an in your face New York kind of way. Is it only my challenge? Or are some of you there too? Where to? What for? Now? When? As for me, I have a lot of work to do.
All I could think of when I saw this display in a local art supply shop was "every picture tells a story don't it?" What that story is in this instance, however, will most likely always be a mystery. Art student anxiety? The fear of big brother? Or, just a window designer with a sense of humour? Some things, I think, are best left to the imagination.
Happy Friday!
It is balloon!! The Fuji Film Blimp partnered with the NYPD this week, as New York's Finest took to the skies in a big way to keep the streets of NYC safe during the RNC. To add to the fun here in NYC, we also had police protection on foot, in helicopters, scooters, squad cars, and vans, and on horses, motorcycles, and bikes. All of this was here, there, and EVERYWHERE. Since many of the big wigs in the Red State party chose to spend their time here in NYC at a private club that is a neighbor to my apartment house, the word security took on new meaning in my otherwise calm neighborhood. While I found all of this too much to bear, one of the houseguests I had this week, eleven year old Oliver from the UK, found it all terribly exciting. As a new, calm weekend dawns, with both conventioneers and protesting heading back to where they came from, I am grateful to have survived all of the hype and hoopla of the past week. As for my UK friends, who departed yesterday, all I can say is, "come back soon please. "
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Congratulations Shannon, who was the first person to email me the correct answer to last week's Friday Postcard Puzzler!! Love Saves the Day was featured in the movie "Desperately Seeking Susan." In the scene in question, Susan, a/k/a Madonna trades in her Pyramid jacket for a pair of studded booties; Roberta a/k/a Roseanna Arquett, buys the jacket after seeing Susan/Madonna make the trade. Shannon, for being such a smarty, you win this keychain to the city. Woo Hoo!! Thanks to everyone who sent in their answer!! All submissions were correct!! Smarties, all of you!!
On the eve of the Republican Convention set to begin here in NYC this weekend, I can only hope that love will save the day. Conventioneers and protesters are arriving in droves, causing many a New Yorker, to grumble and/or take flight. As for me, love has seized the day and I must stay in town this weekend to attend a wedding, so put me in the grumbling category!
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As promised, I am pleased to announce the winner of the First Ever Friday Postcard Puzzler!!! Drumroll, please!!! Congratulations go out to Ann of Washington, DC!! Ann's winning entry went like this:
I believe the architectural style is French Second Empire. (the photo at the top of that page doesn't look similar, but the features all match -- dormers, cornices, mansard roof, columns and balustrades).
The location: The Gilsey House, 1200 Broadway at 29th Street.
Here's what I learned about the building, courtesy of the NY Times archives:
It's an 8-story co-op with commercial space on the ground floor. It was built in 1871. It recently got a small facelift, where they touched up a bunch of architectural elements and gave the whole building a fresh coat of paint.
The 40-unit co-op, where apartments rarely become available and one recently sold for $1.1 million, was a grand hotel until 1911. It was designed in the Second Empire style by Stephen Decatur Hatch for Peter Gilsey, a Danish-born merchant who invested in real estate, and was known for its bar made of silver dollars and for its elevator, one of the first in a hotel. The original Otis car has become a lobby fixture."
High fives to Ann!! Thanks to everyone who sent in an entry! Entries came in from all over the world for this little puzzler! For all of her hard research efforts, and more importantly, for educating me so thoroughly on a building I have always loved, Ann will receive an " I [heart] NY" tee shirt, like the one I am wearing in this picture!! Ann, even though we have never met, I am sure that this tee shirt will look SMASHING on you!! [Who knows, maybe Ann will post a picture of her smart and sassy self wearing her new tee shirt on her new blog! Check it out here.
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Hankering for another puzzler? Try this: Love Saves the Day is a fabulous vintage clothing store in NYC. In what movie did this store have a cameo appearance? What happened in this scene? The first person to email me these two answers will win a small prize!! Good Luck!!
While I don't necessarily know much about architecture, I do know what I like and what I don't like...and this, I like. Not sure if it is new or old, what its architectural style is, or whether it is a residential or commercial space. I just know that I like it and that if it were residential space, that someday I wouldn't mind living in it! The first person who can tell me in an email a) what architectural style this building is; and b) where in NYC this building is will win a small prize. All entries must include a link that indicates the architectural style of this building. All entrants must also include their tee shirt size! Good Luck!!
In my next life, I am going to forego law school and choose art school instead. In my romanticized other life, I will advocate for social change through art, stand up at poetry slams and in an unwaivering voice read my poetry aloud, and hopefully will be welcomed in this museum, the Fusion Arts Museum. Located at 57 Stanton Street, between Chrystie and Forsythe Streets on the Lower East Side, this museum is yet another tribute to outsider art. While I have made two pilgrimages to this lower east side curiosity, I have yet to find my way inside. It seems I keep missing its hours of operation. The museum is a proud sponsor of HOWL!, the 2nd Annual Festival of East Village Arts that is going on all next week here in NYC. Some highlights include the InFusion Exhibit, sponsored by the Fusion Arts Musuem, the forever and always fabulous Wigstock, performances by Stephin Merritt [of Magnetic Fields fame] LD Beghotl, and Dudley Klute, aka, the Three Terrors, and scores of other musicians, singers, artists, et. al. The HOWL! Festival takes place from August 17 through August 24. [Check out www.eastvillageart.com for more info.] See ya there!!!
New York is the Empire State and I am lucky enough to have an empire view of the Empire State building. My terrace, aka my garden in the sky, offers up this view each and every night of the week. The Empire State Building has been the host of many a fun [and not so fun] stunt...from a larger than life tribute to the film King Kong, a foot race where intrepid runners race to the top of the building, to many a wedding proposal, both real and fictional [think Sleepless in Seattle]. For a while now, the Empire State Building has been changing the colours of its evening lights to commemorate some event or holiday...such as green and red for Christmas, lavender to celebrate gay pride, blue and white to celebrate chanukah, or yellow for our solidiers near and far. Time Out NY, one of my favorite entertainment guides, reports each week what the colours of the Empire State Building mean. On the day this photo was taken, the blue lights were meant to commemorate the Boys & Girls Club's National Kids Day. On any given evening you can see the pop, pop, pop of the flash of a tourist's camera as he or she takes pictures of what is said to be a fabulous view. I say this because, as is true of many of a New Yorker and this city's celebrated landmarks, I have yet to find my way to the top of this building.
Theatre anyone? This is what the post performance stage looks like at the Daryl Roth Theatre, home of the off Broadway hit, De La Guarda . This show may not only be called the hottest ticket in town, but also the messiest! One review warns potential patrons of this show to,
"[d]ress in clothes you don't care about and be prepared for anything." If Shakespeare in the Park is not your thing, then this just might be the ticket for you. [Don't bring your knitting]
I call this Friday Postcard, "Portrait of an Artist as a Not So Young Man." Meet Jim Powers. (Thanks, Ellen!!!) Jim is one of my favorite brand of artists, the outsider artist, someone who is compelled to create without formal training or instruction, typically using an unorthodox medium. Using bits of tile, rock, marble, broken dishes and glass, Jim creates beautiful and intriguing mosaics on NYC lampposts. That's right, lampposts. Have a better look at some of his work:
Jim's handiwork can be found on lampposts in the East Village, although when I ran into him the other day, he was working on a corner lamppost at 8th Street and Broadway. A few years ago when I was in graduate school and taking a class in landscape architecture, I came back to NYC for a few days to write a paper about Jim and his work. Try as I might, I could not find Jim or any signs of his work, for it seemed at the time that the City of New York was taking down his work as fast as he could put it up. That said, you can imagine how overjoyed I was to stumble upon Jim as he furiously embellished another lamppost! "Art is for everyone, man, and you don't have to be dead to honor someone," said Jim as we chatted away. Indeed! To Jim!
The Main Branch of the New York Public Library! A mecca for bibliophiles in NYC!! How I love thee!! How I love the library, period!! Yesterday, much to my dismay, the New York Times reported that the reading of books is on the decline in America. Reading is on the decline? According to this article, which quoted a National Endowment of the Arts study entitlted, "Reading at Risk," in 2002, only 47 percent of American adults read "literature'' (poems, plays, narrative fiction). How can that be when every Barnes & Noble or Borders I visit is packed!?? (Note to anyone who cares, my favorite bookstores here in NYC are the small, indie ones. Give me Shakespeare & co, Three Wishes, or any other indie store!! Or better yet, the NY Public Library!!) These super stores are always packed with people strolling through the aisles, or crammed around the "Summer Reading" tables, or sitting on chairs strategically placed around the store, or on the floor, acting as if this store were a library?!! Can it be that Americans are merely buying books but not reading them? Is it better to own a book than to read it? Please, someone tell me that isn't so.
Look!! It's the perfect July 4th knitting project!!! Isn't there someone in your life who would love to have any of these red, white, and blue striped accessories? Without a doubt, they are the perfect gift for the truly patriotic family member or friend, or better yet, for that special someone who will be attending either the Democratic or Republican nation convention!
I am away for the next few days. I will be out of NYC! I will be hiking!! I will be swimming!! I will be having fun!! And, best of all, I will be knitting!! Enjoy the weekend!
Never judge a book by its cover and NEVER judge a yarn store by its AWNING! Say hello to "P & S Fabric, " or as I have lovingly renamed it, "Ye Olde Cheapo Yarne Shoppe." Whatever name you choose to call it, this store is a mecca for low budget yarn and knitting accoutrements on lower Broadway in Manhattan. I go to P & S just to rummage through bins and bins of yarn and other knitting goodies. For example, there is no better place to get Patons Grace, a fabulous mercerized cotton that is the perfect substitute for Rowan Cotton Glace. You can also get Patons Up Country, the perfect yarn to knit up a quickie baby sweater or Patons Twister if you are hankering for a hank of inexpensive novelty yarn! When you tire of looking at yarn, you can saunter over to the fabric section, or look for buttons, or a zipper, or thread, or embroidery floss, or a knitting needles...or any other notion you might be in need of. Did I mention that I LOVE this store, albeit void of Rowan or any other high end yarn? If you pay P & S a visit, say "Hi" to Mark, one of the owners, and tell him his best friend sent you. He'll know who you mean!
Mannequins gone wild!! Indeed! The display designer must have watched the sixties television show "Lost in Space" in reruns to come up with this idea. (As for this curlyhaired knitter, Lost in Space was a rerun favorite! Danger Will Robinson, Danger!!) I was the only person in the sea of pedestrian traffic that flowed in front of the store that housed this dispay who was fascinated enough to stop and stare (or in my case, take pictures). This is not surprising, for after all, this is NYC, and a few free floating psychedelic and partially nude mannequins are NO. BIG. THING.
My father had a great sense of humour! He told a great joke, loved to laugh, and had a good time wherever he went. He also saved virtually everthing he acquired...including this faux business card for his retirement! It cracked me up when I found it, tucked away amidst a pile of papers in the same drawer that held the Bronze Star he earned for heroism during World War II. That the two objects were together in the same drawer said alot about my father's character and humility...funny, self-effacing, brave, and honourable. Too bad he didn't knit!
When the weather gets warm, I want my footwear to be hot! Sling backs!! Open toes!! Sandals!! Ooooh, laaa, laaa!! These cuties caught my eye as I had a wander through Soho. Either one would have been mine but for the heel...a tad too high for my taste. This curly haired knitter needs heels made for walkin' not sittin, even if the sittin' is accompanied by knittin'!!!
LOOK, up in the sky!! Its a bird, its a plane, no, its....SUPER BUTTON!! Actually, its one of two sculptures that welcome visitors to the Fashion District! This fabulous supersized freestanding button sculpture can be found on 7th Avenue slightly below 42nd Street. I love it!! I also love the button and notions stores that dot the neighborhood. Alas, my favorite, Sheroo Bead exists no more, but there are many others where one can rummage through scores and scores of buttons and beads. If you like a good hunt for buttons, as well as fabric, the Fashion District is the place for you!
Spring has been flirting with NYC since it arrived several weeks ago, acting as if it is not sure it will really ever stay and get comfortable. These tulips, however, have no such ambivalence....tall, proud, and blazing red!! A friend of mine always reminds me to find beauty in every day. With the arrival of these tulips, finding beauty every day is not hard to do!
Today is "Poem in Your Pocket Day" in NYC!! As such, New Yorkers are encouraged to carry a poem in their pocket and share it with whoever they please. I thought I would share the poem I am carrying in my pocket with you, dear readers. Enjoy!
"Think as I think," said a man,
"or you are abominably wicked;you are a toad."
And after I had thought it of it,
I said, " I will, then, be."
Stephen Crane
I cannot deny it...I get a tremendous sense of accomplishment when I knit something for someone and they love it. A few months ago I knit a plain vanilla rolled hat out of a handsome shade of Rowan Felted Tweed for my friend Michael....and he loved it. Rumour has it that he wears it all the time. I say rumour has it because he lives in Boston and I no longer see him every day. Michael and I met a few years ago when we both walked away from our careers and went back to graduate school for a year. We became fast friends, along with Johnny Homework and Sam. It was a blissful time! Martini's at the Charles Hotel!! Breakfast at the Paramount!! Lazy afternoons at Curious Liquids (gone but not forgotten) followed by a long walk in the park!! Michael sent me this card to say thank you for the hat I made him. The photo was taken in the very same photo booth a bunch of us crammed into one day, laughing hysterically, capturing one moment of the sweet, happy time we spent together revelling in being a student again. If you take the redline to Downtown Crossing, not only will you be on your way to finding our photo booth, but also you might find our friend Mary Lou Lord busking away. Who knew that CurlsandPurlsNYC could just as easily be called CurlsandPurlsCambridge/Boston? You learn something new every day!!
Times Square, the heart of the New York City theatre district!! Did you know Times Square celebrates its 100th anniversary this year? Times Square, the crossroad at 42nd Street where Broadway and 7th Avenue intersect, was so named after the New York Times moved into the immediate area. Turns out that the New York Times opened its headquarters officially on New Year's Eve 1904 and to celebrate the occasion, threw an all-day street party that concluded with a fireworks display. This event was so successful that Times Square immediately replaced City Hall Park as the favorite gathering site for New Yorkers to ring in the new year. By 1906 the crowds had grown so large that the celebration that occurred in the streets of Times Square became world renown.
In the 1990's, thanks to the Times Square Redevelopment Project, Times Square went through a very impressive metamorphosis...goodbye seedy porn movies and rampant sexual solicitation on the street, hello theatre restoration and theme restaurants. Now, the lights on Broadway are better and brighter than ever...so much so, that at ANY time of day, a knitter could stand on the street and do a little knitting in public!!
Whimsy abounds, even on the subway!! I found this subway fairy peeking out of her portal on a downtown N & R train platform and was immediately charmed. For the observant subway rider, art abounds underground. I am especially fond of the mosaic work found at many stations across the city, both old and new, as well as the chubby little creatures made out of metal that adorn the F line platforms in Manhattan. Have I mentioned lately how much I love it here?
West 48th Street and 6th Avenue!! This spot is the gateway to what is know in the trade as "Music Row." West 48th Street between 7th and 6th Avenues is chock full of music stores and is the place to go to satisfy your inner musician (or in my case, rock star!!). Stop by Rudy's and check out some unbelievable vintage hollow body electric guitars. At any one of the three Sam Ash stores located on this street you can get almost anything else...from guitars, strings, sheet music, amps, or an electric keyboard. At Rod Baltimore International, not only will you find an awesome collection of wind instruments, but also "Susan, the Flute Doctor", who will make your flute sound bright and beautiful no matter what its pedigree is. During my latest visit to 48th Street, I purchased some new Martin Silk and Steel strings for both of my guitars. Its almost spring and time to restring!! I love knitting almost as much as I love playing the guitar...if I only I could figure out a way to do both at the same time.
Without a doubt, everyone needs a good shoe repair man, or woman, in their life. For me, that man is "Sal, the Sole Man." Tucked away on Barclay Street between Church Street and Broadway, Continental Shoe Repair is a downtown institution. Indeed, Sal and his cadre of workers at Continental Shoe Repair have been mending soles and giving new life to leather goods belonging to denizens of the downtown area for a long, long time. Sal is so beloved in the downtown community that after his store was devasted by the events of September 11, a campaign to rebuild and revitalize his store was started by a local lawyer. As part of this effort, people in need of shoe repair from all over the world sent their shoes to Sal for his expert repair and tender loving care. Thankfully, despite its hardship, Continental Shoe Repair is still going strong.
As I prepare to leave the downtown area to start my new job, I have promised Sal that for whatever it's worth, wherever I work in NYC, he will always have me as a customer.
Ricky's!! How could anyone not love a store thats motto is "looking good, feeling good"? Indeed!! If you are looking for fun and funky hair accessories, professional makeup tools, salon quality hair care products, or basically any cool and hip personal grooming product or accessory at a great price, Ricky's is the place for you. Best of all, for me anyway, in October, Ricky's becomes "Halloween Central" and is the place to get an affordable and fun costume!
Now, here is a product tip for all of you curly haired girls out there: Ricky's carries what I have found to be the best hair gel ever-- "Split Personality by Head Games." It will eliminate frizz and promote soft curls with great shine....and in certain store locations, all professional hair care products are 20% off! So, what are you waiting for?
A long weekend is upon us and I am staying home to catch up on all the goings on in town. Movies!! A play!! Shopping!! R&R in the comfort of my own home!! And most likely KIP -- knitting in public--at any one of my favorite coffee bars. News Bar, in the Union Square area on University Place, is a favorite of mine. News Bar is a very welcoming place...good coffee and snacks, a good selection of magazines and newspapers, ample seating, and a small internet user section. This coffee bar makes great ice coffee (you knew that I drank iced coffee all year round didn't you?) and if you score a seat at the window, it is a great place to people watch. The tall, handsome, blue-eyed barista, at least for this curly haired knitter, is an added bonus!! Enjoy the weekend!!
Strawberry Shortcake has always been a favorite treat of mine!! This one appears to be homemade!! If you have a sweet tooth like me, it might be helpful to know that cravings for sweets are best satisfied when the chosen sweet is RED! This rule is especially true when you are trying to make a low calorie, low fat choice. Of course, I think chocolate cravings fall into their own category and have their own set of rules as to how to satiate them. Dig in!! There is enough for everybody.
In the face of all the cold weather and snow here in NYC, it seems only right to think back on a beautiful day way back in September when summer was refusing to yield to fall. This picture was taken in a historic section on Gramercy Park West on the day I went to the NYC 2003 Knit Out in Union Square. Whenever I walk by these homes I am reminded of New Orleans. A warm cup of rich coffee and a fresh beignet at Cafe Du Monde would be such a treat right now. I wonder if they deliver?
It seems only appropriate that I welcome in the Chinese New Year with a photo of my latest art aquisition...a batiked cloth that depicts all of the symbols of the Chinese calendar. This fabric, which now hangs proudly on the wall of my dining room, was a a very generous gift from a friend. When I look at this fabric, I feel a sense of hope and good fortune. Here is to another chance to celebrate the New Year, the Year of the Monkey, 2004. Gung Hay Fat Choy which, according to my friend Polly, means "congratulations on prospering in money." Gung Hay Fat Choy. Can someone send me a red envelope please?
A trip to Brooklyn Heights the other day yielded this photo...a view of the Surrogate's Court from the park. It was such a cold and gray day. This sight, however, warmed my soul. I let my imagination wander a bit and fantasized that I was an aristocrat living in London in the 19th century!! Always the anglophile.
Isn't it ironic that one of my favorite restaurants in Chinatown is Vietnamese? Directly across from Confuscious Square, this restaurant makes the BEST bean thread noodles with grilled chicken and greens. The chicken is v. savory and the noodles and greens are divine. The summer rolls are really tasty too!! Best of all, the bill wont break the bank...a fantastic, healthful, and filling meal for two, summer rolls included, is a little more than $10.00, not including tip. See you there!!
Ahh, nothin' like going back to work the day after Christmas on a friday. This is what my desk looks like as I start the day...a brioche, iced coffee (light please), and a pile of research materials. Don't you wish you were here too?