Asics

I haven't really had much time to blog lately. Other than working three or four days a week we've just been staying very busy hanging out with friends and enjoying NYC. Pup is doing well too and loves when people come over.

Jen's aunt and cousins have been in NY and came to visit, then B.I.L. John and his g/f Alisa spent a few days with us while they're in NY for about a week. Jen took them to all the good sightseeing and tourist spots like the Brooklyn Promenade, Chinatown, and (although it's always packed and annoying) Times Square. I showed them my restaurant and got them Beignets and the Double Chocolate Brownie for dessert. Today Jen, John, and Alisa headed up to White Plains to visit family and then going to a pool party in Connecticut on Saturday. I work Saturday, need to get some stuff done, and spend time with Puppers so I decided to stay behind.

My running shoes have been worn out for a while but, like with most things, I have expensive taste. I made a deal with myself that if I made a certain amount in one night at work then I could splurge on a new pair of Asics. Well, this week I hit that goal and I'm going to go all out and have my foot/ run analyzed and buy whatever I want. My heel has felt bruised for weeks and it's impossible to let it rest when you walk everywhere and work on your feet. Maybe some new cushioning will help.

DUMBO

Spent the day in Brooklyn Heights/ DUMBO (down under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) area of Brooklyn with my two favorite ladies. Pup took her first ride ever in the subway and then I got poop on my hands while cleaning up after her. That was Jen's favorite part of the day. She's laughing about it right now actually.

The view from the Brooklyn Heights Promenade was phat. You could see a lot: Lady Gaga, I mean Liberty, the Financial District, Governor's Island, and the glorious Brooklyn Bridge just to name a few (pic).

We wandered our way to a cool bookstore and chocolate shop in adjacent DUMBO. Of course we had to sample a few chocolate treats at famous Jacques Torres. Pup had a grand time being out and about (pic). Jen mentions, again, that I got poop on my hands and laughs.

Our least favorite part was when we faced a subway security tyrant (we'll call him Hitler) who would not allow Pup back on the subway to get home. We knew you're supposed to keep your dog in a carrier but see people with their dogs out on the trains all the time. Anyway, we took a cab back to LIC in time for another fun Tuesday night BBQ with pals.

Bread and Bacon

While I've been out winning bread, finding bacon to bring home (or whatever you want to call working) Jen's been getting a chance to hang out with some girlfriends. Friday night she went to Williamsburg, Brooklyn for a Moroccan dinner and a classic Carey Grant movie. Although I don't know if I’d want to live there due to the commute to Manhattan from Brooklyn, I really like it and look forward to exploring it when it's not so hot and humid out.

Then this morning she was up with me and as we were waiting for the train into Manhattan, me to work and her going to check out the East and West Village, we ran into more friends. I really don’t mind her getting to have all the fun while I’m at work. I don’t hate my job (yet) and I like it when she goes out in the city (during the day and in a group).

Tonight we had our first home cooked, organic meal in a while which was needed, then went to the dog park with friends Kara and Ryan and their dog Dunkin. Pup and Dunkin didn’t really get along well at first but after a few mild assaults they mellowed out and were like old friends. The weather cooled off a little and the view of the sunset behind the skyline wasn’t too bad either.

Green in the Park

Monday nights are usually pretty slow at work and I didn’t predict I would make very much. I was pretty siked, though, to learn we had two big parties upstairs which are usually a lot of fun to work because you just pass appetizers and try to get people to drink a lot. The first was a post golf fundraiser event for the owners and their friends and the second was for the cast of Broadway’s Avenue Q. Long story short, on a night that I usually wouldn’t make much I walked out with around $400. Woo!


Tuesday we ran some errands, marinated some shrimp and made peach cobbler for the BBQ that night. The cobbler was awesome and probably the biggest hit on the dessert table. Good times.

Today we spent the day in the city with the Cappello’s. We had pizza at my F.I.L.’s friend’s place in Hell’s Kitchen, visited the Intrepid aircraft carrier that’s docked on the Hudson (pic), had some dessert in Little Italy, then ended the day with one final meal at my restaurant. There seems to be a lot of filming going on, maybe for fall shows. There was filming for something in LIC before we left at a restaurant on our street and in SOHO today for Curb Your Enthusiasm (pic). From Grand Central we sent them on their way back to White Plains and we headed home to LIC

My favorite part was when we got home and I took Pup to the small park by our house and found $160 in twenties just lying on the ground. I was like OMG but there was no one around to claim it so it was mine! Now I can’t stop looking around all over the ground when I take her for a walk.

Jen's Day Trip

By the time I was done with with my volunteer duties at church it was pretty late and I still had alot to do so we decided Jen should go upstate without me. I really like the train ride up to where her family lives which snakes along the Hudson River where you can see boats, beautiful homes, and even a castle. The pics below are a few that Jen took on her phone while the train was moving slowly.

Not too much work for me this week (and none for Jen :) ha ) as business is a little slower this time of year. It's good and bad but we'll focus on the positive and look forward to a few exciting NYC outings!

Push or Pull?

When I say today was long I don’t mean it in a bad way. We started at 5 AM by attempting to see Lady Gaga perform at Rockefeller Center for the Today Show. There was a record number (about 20,000) that came to see her so after exhausting all possible options, we headed home. It worked out because after we left it rained and was pretty muggy and the best view of all was from our couch in the a/c. Hey we tried at least!


A funny thing happened on our way back when Jen stopped for a smoothie at Communitea. They’re supposed to open at 7 but the door seemed to be locked at 7:15. Jen looked at her watch, tugged the door, looked at the girl, and all she got was a blank stare. After some exaggerated gesturing Jen gave up and went home only to realize, later, that she was pulling on the door that she should have been pushing to open. HA! I love that story. Oh, I wasn’t with her if you’re wondering why I didn’t figure it out.

Around noon we took a Pilates class, had lunch, and hit up Herald Square for some shopping. That Macy’s has a big selection but it’s just too much of a tourist trap.

After a little breather in LIC, we got cleaned up to head into the city for the third time in one day! We felt like Chinese food and said hey, we live in NYC so we can go to Chinatown for dinner and so that’s exactly what we did. Dessert was Italian cookies just a few blocks over, in Little Italy of course :)

Happy 21st Birthday Michael!

Happy 4th!

Happy 4th! Today after church Jenny took Jen and me to French restaurant Tournesol which is on our street, close to the train stop. Not very patriotic, I know. It was ok, high calorie fo sho! I really don't want this to turn into a food blog but it's kind of hard to avoid with all the great restaurants in the 'hood. Anyway, in this pic is their cool French delivery car out front. The girls didn't want to be in the pic but I got them later cooking in the kitchen (2nd pic).

Speaking of great food, we went to the Shoff's for a BBQ and to watch the Macy's fireworks in HD and A/C. I'm a little disappointed that we didn't see them live since we're so close and it's our first 4th here but everyone said it's super crazy and crowded. There's no place to go to the bathroom too which is a no go if you're married to someone who has to go every 30 minutes. :). The show was pretty amazing from the couch but we went outside for a bit and could see colored smoke and hear the big booms. They look so high on TV but actually aren't even high enough to clear the NYC skyline. Next year they should bring them back to the East River so that LIC and Brooklyn can see something.

F.N. Good

Jen and I have had a great time with friends the last couple of nights. Yesterday we went to dinner and later on a dessert adventure with PJ (who's real name we found out is Vernon, also the street he lives on oddly enough) and Jenny (who's like an old woman trapped in a young girls body). Our dessert adventure took us to 16 Handles in the Union Square/East Village area. It's 16 kinds of frozen yogurt with a giant toppings bar that's open for you to get crazy with. Tasty!
Tonight we stayed in LIC. After work I came home to change, pick up Jen, and then head over to Ryan and Kara's for Kara's suprsise b-day party. It was good to see everyone and for Jen to meet some new peeps. We stayed after all the couples with kids had left and I was forced to play a card game called Dutch Oven, ha, or something like that. Dutch Blitz!-Jen just informed me. Luckily Phil and Susan dropped by and saved me from a fourth round :).

We set up a pup play date for Monday with Kara and Ryan's dog Dunken. They actually wanted to name the dog Frederic Nathanial since their last name is Good. Then the dog would be F.N. Good. Get it? I'm worried Pup won't get along with him because he looks a lot like the dog in Palm Harbor that Pup used to despise.

Tomorrow's the 4th of July so I hope to get to see some Macy's fireworks. They shoot them off by the Hudson now so we can't see much from the East River; aparently the skyline blocks the view :(.

Oh, the filming in LIC the other day was for Silvercup Studios (they do shows like 30 Rock, Sex and the City, and pretty much every NYC themed movie). They bought out the restaurant Masso for the day and had some serious lighting equipment. No celebrity sightings, although there were a couple big trailers/ RV's. Not only were we not invited to be in the movie, we were actually asked to move so we wouldn't be in a shot! Didn't want to be in their stupid movie anyway. There's some speculation that it might have been the movie being made about The Who.