Blue Velvet Sectional

Sometimes, I go a really long time without cooking.  After working a long day, I'm often not in the mood, so I end up eating toast or yogurt.  Lately, too, I have been buying a fairly substantial lunch, as apparently it's better to consume the bulk of one's calories mid-day.  The thing is, I am spending a fortune.  The chicken fillet on a bed of lettuce I usually get at Jimmy the Greek costs more than $10. Add to that my morning Starbucks order, and I am spending an unconscionable amount of money for not that much.  And, to be honest, I miss cooking.  I have still been baking, which is my true love, but when I do, it's too easy for me to end up eating nothing but cookie dough or cupcakes for a week.  As I don't have enough closet space for a separate wardrobe of Fat Clothes, this will not do. This weekend, I decided to make something cheap, filling, and at least sort of healthy. As the rain kept falling, I decided to make lunches for the week with wh...

While I'm too lazy to finish any of the dozen posts I've started, please enjoy the beauty of New York from above.  Happy hump day! Bronx, and Yankee Stadium Central Park Midtown Three Bridges Battery Park, Wall Street, Lower Manhattan Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn

I got a few requests last week for some travel tips for New York.  Although I'm no expert, I have been enough times to have some advice, and for once, it was actually solicited! Where to Stay : Amazing view of Rockefeller Centre and St. Patrick's from my room at the Palace, 2009. I'd still recommend the Omni, but my top choice would be the  Sofitel .  Both are really clean, and well-situated.  If you can get a deal, I'd take the Sofitel.  The lobby and bar are better, and the rooms just that bit nicer (separate stall shower in the bathroom is always good, and better toiletries).  The New York Palace  was incredibly comfortable, and our view from a tower room was phenomenal.  The Algonquin  is also a fine choice, and is right near the Sofitel. It's small, but has a great bar, and of course, an unmatched  literary heritage. Near the Algonquin and Sofitel is the Red Flame Diner, on 44th almost at 6th.  It's a perfect place ...

The Mets are coming to Toronto this week!  Since inter-league play started, I always go to the games when they come to town. You may ask: why on earth do I love the Mets?  Because in 1986, I thought Keith Hernandez  was cute.  That's a perfectly legitimate reason for a teenage girl to pick a favourite sports team.  It was also one of the rare instances where a guy with a moustache rocked my world. David Wright against the Washington Nationals, 2010.

Summer storm season is here.  By that, I mean it's wherever I am.  Apparently, I brought it back from New York  with me.  Last Wednesday, I left the office with my  Wayfarers  on, and walked home in bright sunshine,  thinking to myself, what are those morons on the Weather Network talking about? It's not going to rain!   10 minutes after I got in the door (for once, I was lucky), sheets of water started falling from the sky. Seriously. An hour later, the lobby ceiling in the other condo in this generally lovely complex, which my friends call  Cabrini Green , because the elevators break so often, partially collapsed when a storm drain broke.  This left both buildings with no hot water Thursday morning. Great.  I discovered this at 7 AM by sticking my leg under running water I assumed to be hot.  The shriek I let out woke me, and probably a few neighbours, up. There was no way I was taking an ice cold shower, so I j...

Congratulations to the amazing Helen Mirren on winning a Tony last night!  Well-deserved, in my opinion.  The play was very good, if not great, but she convincingly played the queen at ages ranging from 25 to 85, and sold me at each. It never felt at all like a caricature (Judith Ivey as Margaret Thatcher,  on the other hand... )  That's a pretty impressive feat. Seriously, though, she needs to send Her Majesty a nice Edible Arrangement or something; QE II is the gift that keeps on giving. Had lunch on the rooftop terrace at Eataly a few Saturdays ago.  It was really enjoyable, if blazing hot.  Had a smattering of apps and salads, and they were all inventive and delicious.  Also, the portions on the cheese tray were what you'd expect from Mario Batali, so grazie , Mario! Molto Mario, molto cheese! I'm melting, but the view, the food, and the wine made up for it. The mojito I had at  the Rum House  was fantastic.  The bar is ...