Beat the Heat Smoothie

Here we are at the start of another week long heat spell. I have been trying to stay cool by going to the gym (air conditioned) and making a nice frozen blender smoothie in the afternoons. 

I usually have several bags of fruit in the freezer; diced bananas, halved strawberries, blueberries and blackberries. When in season, I'll have frozen diced peaches and apricots as well. I freeze the fruit by first place the prepared fruit on a cookie sheet, stick it in the freezer, and then put the frozen fruit in zip lock freezer bags.

For this afternoons smoothie, I combined frozen bananas, strawberries and blueberries, a teaspoon of bee pollen and a squirt of honey. Ahhhhhhhhh

Tripple Digits

It's pretty rare that I run the AC during the day, but I did today. The temperatures got up to 103° today in Central Park. Only six times has NYC broken the 100 degree mark,, last one was in 2001. This is/was a 5 day wave. What am I doing to keep cool? ...I'm not. If anything, I'm thinking of how nice it would be living in Northern Canada about now.

Why didn't I think of that? wait, I did!

I think the Tribeca area of Manhattan has more day care centers than any other part of the city. There is at least one to three of them on each and every street. So, last year when this Director neighbor of mine was between jobs, I mentioned to him that he should develop a program for kids and work right here in the neighborhood. He could develop classes on the different elements of theater, like musicals, dance, drama, tumbling, revivals, 'off' broadway, Summer camps, comedy, history, etc. He poo poo'd the idea. Well, here we go,, right down the street at FasTrac Kids is "Little Director".. how cute is that?

PS: I wrote FasTracKids to inquire about the program "Little Director". After all, maybe it's not about theater classes(?) no response.

Deep Sunset on Duane Street

My apartments large front windows face the West/North direction here in Lower Manhattan. Twice a year the Sun sets deep on the horizon between a narrow part of two buildings way off in the distance from my highrise building. The sunlight used to reach way back into my kitchen, filling it with pink light at these two specific times of the year. These deep sunsets would go for two or three days.

Another building has been built since last spring, narrowing this space down to a sliver. So, my 'Tetris' skyline has been blocked a little bit more, only allowing the sunset to reach the back wall of the living room just before the kitchen. This will happen again in the Spring.

I would guess about 12% of the blue sky I could see out my window is gone to buildings appearing in it's place, this game of Tetris will go on until.... ?

Expensive Tastes

Since 1994, the Taste of Tribeca street fair has been a neighborhood favorite with local families and visitors. You can enjoy a sampling of some of the best restaurants in Tribeca like the Blaue Gans, Bouleys, Chanterelle and the Tribeca Grill. The cost is $40 and includes 6 tastings. The event ends at 3pm, classifying it as more of a 'brunch' of sorts. So, come early! I personally feel it should be unlimited tastings, but I'm a pig. It all looks so good!

There are various events throughout the afternoon. You can download a Taste map and the Wine Tour Map here on the Events page. Some of the events include a free culinary history walking tour of Tribeca by Liz Young Tours. Steve Olson will be leading a Wine Tasting tour for 20 participants. Enjoy.

TOAST WEEKEND

For just this weekend, I transformed my small New York City studio apartment into an art gallery "Salon Style". I participated in the Tribeca Open Artists Studio Tour artwalk event for the first time and I really enjoyed the experince.

In spite of this weekends record breaking 90° temperatures, the show went well. I had a few dozen art lovers show up for each day and the energy was great. I met some wonderful people and was able to show my art, have good conversations and relax and share a bit of wine and cheese. I not only made several good sales, but I was happy how my space transformed into a gallery setting equal to any SOHO flat. Thank you New York~!

Now that I know the 'ropes' of TOAST, I look forward to doing this next year in an even grander way~!

Once again.. Spring

Every year, the trees at the small park below our building bloom. For the few weeks this is happening, it's quite impressive.... then it gets messy ;-)
I also walked by Duane Street Park on my way home this afternoon. It's one of the oldest parks in New York City dating back to 1797 and just down the street from me. No blooms there yet. When the weather gets warmer, that's where you will find me some afternoons, sitting on a park bench sketching, sipping my Starbucks Mocha Frappuccino and having my way with a Taco Bell Crunchwrap Supreme. (Think "Joan Collins" in the taco episode, Season Two of Will and Grace.)