Love Story: Biography bracelet for a friend

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The little ballerina and the body builder share a love story… I have been constructing bracelets for about ten years; I use vintage and antique charms to tell stories, and like my poems, they are never really complete. This commemorates the story of two people who have been love for many years, and they will soon be having a child and making it all “official.” I have just added some charms to the bracelet I began several years ago.  Mouse-over the photos to see titles; you can click on the first image and enlarge the photos one-by-one. Some have descriptive … Continue reading →

New York City Nostalgia: Meet Miss Subways/Exhibit at the New York Transit Museum

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Miss Subways was a beauty contest that was held in New York City from 1941-1976; the winner had her photo and bio posted for a month or two, in the subways. The Miss Subway exhibit is the project of a photographer, Fiona Gardner and a writer, Amy Zimmer, who were intrigued by the photographs that once hung between ads on subway trains; they managed to collect 147 of the original 200 posters and to track down 50 former Miss Subways and interview 41. The project turned into a lesson in history and sociology, not only mapping lives but our culture … Continue reading →

12-4-12: A visit to little Souçi’s new home

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I visited with my little adopted friend at her new home with her “Nonna.” Her adopted mom was at work and we wanted to get in a feeding. Souçi looked so much bigger when she was at my house in the cage, but seeing her hiding in the bathroom and then in a little blanket, reminded us how teeny she is. She was nervous and shaking at first but after giving me a sniff she seemed to recognize me and settled down and purred when held. She’s the baby of the litter.

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12-2-12: The litter is 12 weeks old: Souçi will be adopted today

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It’s a bittersweet day; the kittens when taken in, with a few fleas and ringworm, were about five weeks old. Today is Souci’s last day.  She is going to be picked up to go to her forever home. Later… A bittersweet day. We’ll miss you, Souçi. I wonder how her siblings will feel. I also wonder how she will feel: surely animals have feelings. And then there were three little kittens… To cheer up the other three we thought it was time to allow them to get some exercise as no infection is visible. Here’s a game of hallway tag. … Continue reading →

409. My mother, my child; a Grundig radio and a Singer sewing machine

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I’m back…too tired to talk…got a lot done but it was endless running and I didn’t even have that much time to spend with my mother as so much had to be done and resolved. First as you know, before I even went down, mother’s money was stolen. The next day her clothes were missing (they were found after I screamed). The last straw was Sunday morning before 8 a.m. when the phone rang (I was just getting up after not having slept for 3 days and a nurse told me of a mishap: my mother’s partial dentures were tossed … Continue reading →

450. NYC Photo Journal: In search of culinary perfection: From arepas to donuts

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The other day I treated myself to a manicure in a place where there is a small high def television at every nail drying station. In addition, the salon has a huge screen; all televisions are tuned to The Food Network. There are a dozen or so lovely ladies with wet nails drooling over Paula Dean’s presentations, or Bobby Flay’s. I happened to hit Bobby on a good day: he was challenging the owner of Caracas Arepa Bar to a “Throwdown” challenge. Who can make the better arepas? Caracas won. Sorry, Mr. Bobby the Foodie Ego. You can’t beat this … Continue reading →

444. New York City Photo Journal: Grand Central Terminal: more food!

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The grandest of terminals has been renovated and its majesty is overwhelming. Beyond its two levels of trains that come down from New York State and Connecticut, there are links to the New York City subway. It is located on 42nd Street and Park Avenue. Beyond trains it is a shopper’s haven. In fact, it is so huge, one has to consult a map to fine one’s way around. The New York City Transit Museum Gift Shop has a branch there with a special train exhibit. All photos except the top right are property of the author; taken with 3.0 … Continue reading →

293. NYC: From Brooklyn to Lower Manhattan: A visual essay and a prelude…

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Red Hook, Brooklyn. Labor Day, 2008. This area had been neglected, was run down, seedy, and not very visitable. It’s main landmark was a city housing project. And then something wonderful happened. The Swedish home furnishings company know as IKEA, stepped in and did wonders. In return for its waterfront property it created Erie Basin Park, a free water taxi service to lower Manhattan (to lure over Manhattan-ites). The great thing is, anyone can use the taxi service, and they do, to go to work or to get to Manhattan. Many people forget, including the city government, that New York … Continue reading →

285. Photos:Thursday in the park with Al

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This is Al, the sweetest man on earth; secretly, I think of him as the father I never had. Kind, brilliant, loving, and still around in his late 80’s as spunky and adventurous as ever. Al was a friend of my late father-in-law and family. In the 70’s when Mr.Souci and I were traveling through Ireland, we met Al and his wife in Dublin, by coincidence, and had a few meals together. Al’s lovely wife passed away of cancer a number of years ago. My father-in-law died suddenly some years after. My step-mother-in-law and Al, the surviving spouses, became an … Continue reading →

299. Part 2: NYC: Brooklyn: Saturday photo album, 9/20/08 Pizza as art

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After purchasing a bag full of sweet treasures at The Orchard, hubby had Di Fara’s pizza on the brain. Di Fara’s is one of New York City’s allegedly best pizza. You have to understand that the city has thousands of pizzerias, but Di Fara’s is one of the inner circle of 3. Far from fancy, it sits on the corner of Avenue J and 15th Street in the Midwood section of Brooklyn. It is here that Domenico De Marco has been making pizza, by hand, for 40 years. All ingredients are imported from Italy; San Marzano tomatoes, spices, cheeses, olive … Continue reading →

310. Week end Photo Journal: Part 2: Long Island City: on the waterfront

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Long Island City is an area of Queens that is in the process of gentrification. Once fairly run-down, this area on the East River is now a goldmine. It is a transit hub; the subway and the Long Island Railroad stop there, just built luxury condos and rentals are sprouting up all over. I thought this was a recession; apparently not here in NYC. And then there is the view. Nothing like it. The Pepsi-Cola sign is a landmark. (I am behind it.) Look for the 59th Street Bridge beyond. Feelin’ Groovy, yet?

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394. NYC Photo Journal: From the Caribbean to India: Tribal Legacy to Dosa Hutt/Flushing, NY

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Sunday Concert series at Flushing Town Hall, Flushing New York. This is the second in a concert series that we enjoyed. Impending storms kept us inside with the house rocking. Last concert (Doo-Wop), was held outside in the garden and gourmet catered food was available. Great music, great sound: Tribal Legacy. A high energy group that went on and on for 2 hours, sans break. Fabulous time. Dancing, dancing, dancing, hot, hot, hot… We had an after concert (south) Indian dinner in Flushing near one of the Hindu temples at Dosa Hutt. Join me for medhu vada, onion rava masala … Continue reading →

392. Part 6. Photo Journal: Eating our way home: Food as art

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Dinner at Mezze. Unique salad trio; delicious roast chicken with kale/mushroom risotto; cherry cake and gelato The Berry Patch, Stephentown, NY, a wonderful roadside farm stand. This is local color. Pies are from a later stop at McEnroe Farms where organic meats and veggies rule.

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