the fabulous life of V

news?

2009-06-03T20:02:00.002-04:00

this seems about 6 months too late- the cocktail fad is already on it's way out.

beware

2009-04-27T21:09:00.002-04:00

sunday late afternoon, the boy and i found ourselves recovering from an exhausting weekend of socializing. we watched a bit of venture brothers and munched on leftover meatballs and nuts when i noticed a VM left by momma V.

on one hand i had no energy to talk on the phone but on the other hand the guilt of ignoring her call would bother me. so i listened to the voice mail to mentally prepare for the conversation in store:

momma V: ni, i have something very important to tell you. call me back as soon as you can. it's your mom and it's sunday.

so like an obedient, asian daughter i called my mom.

V: hi mom, it's ni. how are you?

momma V: oh i'm so glad you called. i've been so worried.

V: why?

momma V: i heard on the news that there's an outbreak from pork meat in new york. so don't buy or eat any pork meat.

V: huh? (i hadn't read any news since friday) oh sure mom. i won't. that's easy enough, i don't eat all that much pork (except for bacon, prosciutto, and pancetta that is)

momma V: ok. that's all, you can go back to relaxing before work tomorrow.

V: ok, night mom. love you.

mommaV: love you too.

we enjoyed a bit of the beautiful weather and took a walk along the east river and enjoyed some 7-11 delights in the park. a little nap afterwards followed by wings from bar coastal and "science of sleep" rounded out the night.

work was crazy busy today. lunch got postponed until 5pm and i rushed out at 6pm so i could hit the gym and grocery store. on my way back home i noticed another VM from momma V.

that's really odd. she rarely calls two days in a row unless it's an emergency.

so i listened to the VM.

momma V: it's your mom. i'm so worried about the swine flu. call me back!!!

i decided to wait until tomorrow to call her back when my annoyance by her paranoia subsided. but then annoyance faded into sadness for my mom who lets fear restrict her ability to experience new things and live a fuller life. . .

wha the . . . ?!

2009-04-15T22:45:00.002-04:00

another but perhaps underrated reason why "google" is one of the best things ever.

what kids learn in school

2009-04-14T00:41:00.004-04:00

my nephew cracks me up whether he is hamming it up with goofy faces, silly songs, or dance moves. the highlight of the weekend was his "tooty tot" song with choreographed dance moves which he learned in school. . . it goes something like this.

a tooty tot a tooty tot, a tooty tah tah!

a tooty tot a tooty tot, a tooty tah tah!

thumbs up. elbows back. legs apart. knees together. bottoms up.

then, with his thumbs up, elbows pressed sharply back, legs standing shoulder length apart, knees close together and little body at a ninety degree angle, wes closes his eyes and sticks his tongue out and dances in a little circle. all the while grunting. . .

uh un uh uh. uh un uh uh. uh un uh UH!

it is one of the funniest things i've ever seen in my life. . . although i get the sneaking suspicion that his teacher is having the biggest laugh of us all.

what to do?

2009-04-12T23:34:00.000-04:00

the boy and i got back to nyc sunday night around 7pm with a hankering to do something besides staying in. i wasn't really into the idea of the yea yea yeas so we searched the internet and tony for other options. the boy read about a free comedy show at three of cups so we decided to check it out.

we got there just in time to nab good seats and a table. by the time we settled in with drinks and an order of food, the MC came onto the stage. his introduction was painfully un-funny and made me nervous for the impending line up and show in store. to my relief, each comedian was progressively more funny than the last and definately had many laugh out loud moments.

the group definitely varied in experience and personalities as evidenced by the different styles of delivery, level of interaction with the audience and overall effectiveness. while i've been to a handful of "professional" comedy shows and truly enjoyed them, there was something quite refreshing and raw about sunday's performances. i would definately go again. and $4 glasses of wine aren't so bad either.

happy

2009-04-07T23:25:00.000-04:00

that's how this song makes me feel.

mood swings

2009-04-07T20:51:00.003-04:00

lately, i've come to think that my low-energyness is weather related.

because all i could think of doing on friday was getting home, going to the gym, and spending the rest of the night holed up with my honey and some dvd's. as soon as the heavy rain subsided and the sun peaked through friday at 6pm, i was singing a different tune!! i threw on my sneakers and ipod in hand, went for a nice jog along the east river where i contemplated dinner menus and what to do after dinner.

after my run, i stopped by A&V and picked up groceries and the nearby wine store for a bottle of white. dinner consisted of mussels (incredibly fresh and big!) and oyster mushrooms cooked in a green curry broth and stir fried chinese vegetables. the boy suggested we go out for drinks so we headed down to flatiron lounge for a couple drinks where we enjoyed well made cocktails but was instantly reminded by the douche factor why i don't like going to "hot" places on weeknights.

the next morning, instead of sleeping in as planned, i was compelled by the bright sunlight spilling into my room to get out of bed and head to the gym. starving 75% into my weight session, i decided to cut it short and headed to east side bagels to pick up breakfast. back at home, i brewed some coffee and we ate our bagels while watching old episodes of "it's always sunny in philadelphia". the rest of the day flew by. some shopping for myself at bloomies. lunch in koreatown. bridal shower gift shopping at macy's which turned out to be one of my most maddening shopping experiences EVER. aliens & monsters in 3-D followed by bon chon at boka.

the next day was more relaxing with a bridal shower in williamsburg and an impromptu dinner with dandy and the boy at crif dogs. the evening rounded out with drinks at belcourt and more sunny.

an action packed weekend all in all!

that feeling

2009-04-01T21:16:00.001-04:00

do you ever get the desire to procrastinate- simply because you have a deadline?

our first bookclub meeting- VK, celestial, and theng is tomorrow and i'm about halfway through the chosen book Wild Swans. so why am i blogging instead of reading?? good question.

ok, back to the task at hand.

lovely weekend

2009-03-31T21:11:00.003-04:00

it's a constant struggle for me to find balance in my life, to get better at saying no and accomplishing/doing all the things i really want to do. instead, i find myself in one of two predicaments:

1. being so busy during the week with work, gymming and social outings that i'm too exhausted to do or want to do anything besides veg out

2. being so busy on the weekends with appointments, chores, and catching up with friends that i am too tired and unmotivated to do anything during the work week

this week, it's #2. i had an unexpected dinner with british dave at my place. both exercise-aholics, we both squeezed in workouts before an impromptu meal of chili, meatballs and red wine at my place. i have the notion that british dave is too polite to tell me he really wasn't too fond of the meal as he ate only one bowl of chili and one meatball but continued to devour the loaf of multigrain bread!! nonetheless, it was wonderful to catch up.

saturday i met up with celestial in chinatown where i had my first visit with dr D. i've been trying to find a good doctor in nyc for ages, and was happy celestial recommended hers. the experience was undoubtedly odd! on bowery, just steps away from my favorite banh mi store, you step into a commercial building. the two sets of elevators are readily spotted by a swarm of chinese people trying to enter/exit. in the elevator, there are two doors which are adjacent to one other but only one opens depending on which floor you are on. since dr D had gotten in late, appointments were over an hour behind schedule. celestial and i decided to kill time and go grocery shopping. by the time we got back, it was only another 15 minutes of waiting before it was my time to go in.

dr D was a nice, middle aged chinese woman with the kind of straightforward talk that only a middle aged chinese woman could get away with. over the course of the visit, she told me i had an "old person's name", fat people put talcum powder "down there" but that's bad because it may be linked to cancer, and that women used to grow their arm hair out and that was OK.

after the visit, celestial and i headed back to LIC and watched vicky, christina, barcelona. then celestial made a delicious feast of okonomiyaki, tofu with edamame, and stir fried squid. we listened to some music and got dressed for dancing. in the end, we skipped the birthday parties and went to la caverna to dance. hours later (forgot how much i love to dance) and even making a new friend, we went to schillers for a quick snack and evening recap before splitting around 3AM.

sunday was a more relaxed day. i met up with dandy at prune for brunch. a southwest bloody mary and butter crumbled poached eggs with spicy stewed chickpeas for me and a green lake bloody mary and soft scrambled eggs for him. the food is as well thought out and executed as i remembered. really, one of my favorite restaurants in nyc. after brunch we went to spa belles where we got manicures and i was so relaxed i could have fallen asleep. we walked back to union square, stopping by trader joe's for a bit before parting ways.

who couldn't use a laugh

2009-03-25T22:04:00.001-04:00

compliments of BD!!!

only in newport blues

2009-03-23T21:29:00.000-04:00

look closely

DC trip

2009-03-16T21:17:00.006-04:00

left work early so the boy and i could head down to DC for the william elliot whitmore show a DC9. unexpectedly bad traffic made the drive particularly stressful although we managed to make decent time once outside of new york. while we missed a handful of songs, WEW was in even better form than i remembered making our trip well worth the effort! after the show, the boys bought memoriabilia and i queued to talk to WEW. got a nice little handshake and the chance to share how much i love his work.

after the show, we headed to ben's chili bowl for a late dinner which was absolutely delicious but totally negated a week's worth or working out. we had a quickish drink at a nearby bar before heading back to gangsta's apartment. we chatted for a bit before i retired for bed and let the boys play.

next day was a lazy start- a little reading, hanging out, and watching t.v. the plan had been to meet up with my gradeschool friend reesy for dinner. turned out her wonderful hubby was able to join as well- the question was where to go? after calling one restaurant after the next, it became evident that dinner reservations for a party of six were not to be had. so gangsta and i decided to cook dinner. we bought groceries from eastern market and harris teeter.

we whipped up a nice little dinner of bacon wrapped shrimp, arugula salad in a lemon dressing, wild mushroom risotto, skirt steak, and a small plate of cheese & prosciutto. everything turned out nicely and i was excited to see seconds being taken on the risotto. . .no better compliment to the cook! turned out that gangsta and reesy knew some common folk and conversation flowed smoothly. all around a nice evening.

sorting through

2009-03-11T00:03:00.002-04:00

the mood has been strange of late and i can't help but feel affected. the economic downturn has turned into a stressful environment at work. everyone is working at least twice as hard for fewer returns. to make matters worse, there is an undercurrent of fear- for getting laid off at worst and never getting promoted at best.

a colleague's boyfriend passed away this morning. . . i feel terribly for her and the sadness weighs on me.

at the same time, her loss reminds me of how extremely fortunate i am, leaving me with a sense of guilt. while my life is far from perfect- i have family, friends, a partner that are all in good health and who i love immensely and continue to enrich my life. and so i feel compelled to demonstrate my gratitude and appreciation to all of my loved ones and savor every shared moment and memory.

"once around" feels quite apropos and a poignant reminder to focus on what is really important in life.

first pass

2009-03-09T00:50:00.003-04:00

there are many foods that i love but never try to make- indian, chinese, mexican, and etc. . these are all foods that are best eaten in hole in the wall restaurants or someone's home.

but given that it's so hard to find cheap, delicious mexican food in nyc (c'mon, i was spoiled by southern california!) and the boy's affinity for it, i decided to try my hand at making it from scratch. for the past couple weeks i scoured the internet for authentic recipes. . . thereby happening on a chowhound discussion about the best carnitas recipe which reminded me of the fact that the best home cooked, ethnic foods are often made without recipes. at least not the carefully measured, precisely spelled out, step by step variety. rather, the general description of ingredients and loose guidelines. thereby leaving the success of the meal to the inventiveness and taste of the chef.

after rounding out the menu with guajillo salsa and queso fundido, i was pumped up!! after a full day of lazying, the boy and i took the bus to east harlem (or shall i call it food heaven) to get groceries.

good quality meat and produce for cheap!!! something possessed me as i can barely remember what i bought and vaguely recall just grabbing at things i might need later on. a couple hours later, we headed back home both happy- the boy armed with coconut drinks, the biggest beer EVER, and me with enough food to fill my tiny fridge to capacity. we got home, watched the "secret lives of altar boys", then feasted on chorizo arepas before falling asleep.

dinner came together relatively seemlessly and while my guests did not complain about the food i was not really satisfied. while quite fragrant and hearty, the carnitas was lacking in "bite", the consistency of the queso fundido went from too watery to too sticky, and the salsa while having a fresh and smoky flavor, was not nearly as spicy as proclaimed. . . think i'll have to try, try again.

miles away and worlds apart

2009-02-24T23:07:00.006-05:00

i grew up in a small town in south-eastern virginia. which makes transitioning back into suburban life relatively easy. in fact, most of my trips to smaller towns whether it be wynnewood, PA, or gainesville, FL offer welcome respite from the city. the convenience of target, trader joe's, and affordable, huge grocery stores is undeniable!

so i was a little taken aback when i couldn't answer my uncle's question about whether i felt culture shock visiting great falls after living in new york for the past few years. to be honest, life in northern virginia is far different from any place or kind of life i have lead.

whenever i visit NN, it feels like home and never seems to change dramatically. however, northern virginia is vastly different from the environment i grew up in. in NN, i was among a handful of asian kids (almost all the other vietnamese ppl in my middle/high school were relatives) and the dominant minority was african american. in a good way, i quickly acclimated to "american" life and was quite comfortable in non-ethnic settings. in fact, i got so accustomed to being the only (non-hispanic/black) ethnic minority that i often felt out of place when i was surrounded by a large number of vietnamese folk.

on the otherhand, in NOVA, the ethnic communities are quite strong. so strong in face, that my grandmother got without learning a lick of english in her entire 20 year tenure in the USA. in sum, the expectation to adhere to vietnamese customs, values, and traditions is significantly higher: e.g. pursuing a medical related field (doctor, dentist, optometrist, etc), going to vietnamese establishments (restaurants, churches, etc), dating/marrying someone vietnamese, and etc. . . while i try my best never to judge, i find this way of life so limiting. . . and am grateful to have parents that have supported a more liberal lifestyle.

monday off with the girls

2009-02-18T21:58:00.002-05:00

while valentine's weekend was all about quality time with the boy, president's day was focused on playing catch up with my girlfriends.

the day started with a lovely brunch with theng at penelope, a charming little restaurant that felt out of place in murray hill. . but in a good way. i had poached eggs with smoked salmon on a pumpernickel bread with a side of greens. theng had the spinach pie. while neither were mind blowing, the food was good and hearty, the service was friendly and fast, and the atmosphere was cozy. after brunch, we went to see "he's just not that into you". i enjoyed it, but then again, i had absolutely no expectations except to be entertained and to get some eye candy. mission accomplished.

afterwards, i stopped by work to run a couple reports then was off to meet celestial for dinner at our old standby, kura sushi. funny how not seeing her for a few days or a week while she was on vacation in cancun felt like a long time. guess it's just indicative of how close we've become over the past year. . .

wine, fashion and tapas

2009-02-13T10:44:00.001-05:00

it's a beautiful thing when you meet someone and thing just click. such was the case thursday afternoon when i happened to stop by a colleague's office to drop something off. bengla and i had previously met on a couple occasions but never had the opportunity to discuss anything outside of work stuffs. what was intended to be a short exchange wound up being a half an hour discussion about work, our backgrounds and etc. wanting to continue our conversation but feeling the need to get back to work, i suggested grabbing drinks one night after work.

instead, bengla suggested attending a launch party for pyndela, a new, young designer of chinese-thai descent. luckily meg was game to check it out rather than eat dinner at my place. so the four of us, including one of bengla's friends, went to the roger smith hotel to see what all the fuss was about. the spring 09 line of mostly dresses, party tops, and retro hats was mostly fun and flirty however sometimes veering into the sleek and elegant. while the designer was clearly still developing in her design aethestic, i was impressed by a couple of standout pieces: an above the knee length number that evoked the flapper spirit and a white flowery, bohemian number that is the perfect summer dress.

after meeting the designer, taking in the clothing, and enjoying the open bar we decided to head to bar jamon. stepping into the small, dark restaurant i was immediately transported back to barcelona. the only thing missing was the communal plates of tapas ready to be devoured! two glasses of cava later, meg and i headed back home, sated by an unexpectedly delightful night.

reassessing values

2009-02-11T22:41:00.002-05:00

i read this article during my mini lunch break today.

two hours later another acquaintance of mine was laid off.

i have a hard time feeling sorry for someone who can't afford to hire a personal chauffeur.

restless

2009-02-09T22:23:00.003-05:00

i've never been a great sleeper and in fact always thought that sleep was a waste of time. as i got older and perhaps somewhat influenced the boy, i've discovered how delicious and important a good night of sleep can be.

after a tiring day of work, i was oh so looking forward to an early night. i cleared my schedule, ate an early dinner and relaxed at home. around 9pm, i promptly removed myself from the internet and distractions. i took my herbal supplement and drank a glass of water and went to bed. i tried listening to my heart beat then the sound of my breath rising and falling, hoping that the steady rhythm would soothe me to sleep. unfortunately, sleep alluded me and as i continued to toss and turn i grew increasingly frustrated.

what are your tricks for falling asleep?

the big 3-0

2009-02-04T22:53:00.006-05:00

turning 30 has been on my mind as of late. strangely, it is with a sense of excitement and relief that i prepare to embark on this new decade. . . maybe it's because i have gotten to a point in my life where i know my mind and am comfortable with the person i have become.

nonetheless, challenge and new experiences lead to growth and evolution. since i believe in continual self-improvement and cultivation, i have made a few personal resolutions. ranging from the unabashedly superficial (rock a seriously fit body by my 30th birthday) to practical (be more frugal) to the silly (get used to ctrl+T and better at importing music to itunes).

so far so good- i've managed to finally get over the exercise hump and reincorporated strength training back into my routine and cut back on eating out on weekday nights. now, if i can just save up enough money to do some traveling, i'd be all set. . .

tough times

2009-02-03T22:12:00.004-05:00

tonight i recalled something mikey said over dinner. judging others does not make any sense because you are making an assessment on one moment in time with no real idea of what motivates that person's actions or the many factors influencing his life. in essence, no knowledge of all the things that weighed in in his thought process.

i try to remember that and find the patience and insight to understand those around me facing difficult situations.

comforting words come easily.

i am sorry for your loss . . . i understand . . . things will get better.

do these words offer any solace? often things get worse before they get better. and sometimes shit happens- death, illness, loss- for no reason at all. there is no one to blame. though war and depression, life goes on.

and so in the end, the answer begins with oneself. it is with the knowledge that we are all immensely resilient in the face of adversity. that we make the choice to continue to live our lives and determine our future by summoning the courage and strength to pick up the pieces and start again. . .

getting outta town

2009-02-01T21:42:00.004-05:00

while i love new york, there's something nice about leaving town for a weekend. perhaps the simple change of scene and slower pace. the delightfulness of the get-a-way was intensified after a painfully slow week.

the occasion was the boy's high school buddy, gangsta's, 31 st birthday weekend. we arrived at our destination some time after midnight and had a nightcap and easy conversation before all crashing to sleep. the next morning was an early start and venture over the Eastern Market's breakfast spot, The Market, for breakfast. the boy and i both got the "brick"- a breakfast sandwich who's sum is greater than its parts- a fresh, yeasty roll filled with choice of meat (thick cut bacon, delicious sausage, ham), cheese, egg, and fried potatoes. a cheap, hearty breakfast providing enough calories to fuel a day of manual labor or put you into insta-food coma!

after dropping gangsta's wife home, we toured gangsta's work place and then went shopping in georgetown. for once i showed considerable restraint while the boy had much luck finding new pieces around 5:30, we decided to freshen up and relax a bit before going out for dinner at sakana sushi. it was a wonderful evening filled with many delectable rolls of sushi, glasses of sake, and conversations with new friends. the evening ended as easily as it began, a bit early but feeling just right.

sunday was a later start. the bright spots were incredibly tasty ethiopian food at etete on 9th at u street. the boy and i shared yekwanta firfir, essentially beef jerky mixed with injera and a whole fried fish in addition to sampling gangsta's rare kitfo. the yekwanta firfir was perfectly seasoned, bursting with flavor and leaving me hankering for more meat and less injera. the fish was flash fried and quite fresh. simply prepared and delicious with a squeeze of lemon. i was intrigued with the idea of kitfo as i had only had raw beef in south american and korean cooking. perhaps gangsta's rave reviews had me expecting too much but i felt somewhat disappointed. while certainly a solid and moreover an interesting dish, i felt the beef lost too much flavor being uncooked. all in all though, etete reminded me how good ethiopian food can be!

tribute to bacon

2009-01-28T22:15:00.002-05:00

i consider myself a foodie. the boy has even taken to calling me BE for "big eats" because the majority of my social activities revolve around food and/or eating out. i am more than happy to spend a pretty penny and a while away a day going from store to store getting the right ingredients and cooking.

however this is a level of foodie that is simply beyond me.

standup economist

2009-01-21T21:21:00.002-05:00

i'm not sure if i would have thought this was funny had i not spent 7 years studying economics. . but i did and there you go.

enjoy!

thanks for the tip theng.

all a buzz

2009-01-20T07:55:00.002-05:00

you can feel it in the air and the words are on everyone's lips.

change.

today is a special day. this inauguration holds the promise of a better america lead by a man who has captured the public's imagination and inspired citizens worldwide in the belief that we can make the world a better place. it's a great start. . . .

disconnecting => reconnecting

2009-01-18T20:30:00.003-05:00

in need of cleaning up and maintenance, my lappy has been out of commission for the past week and change.

i felt somewhat lost without my main modes of staying connected- email, facebook, blogs and gchat. i missed the convenience of looking up movie times, restaurants, and directions instanteously. i missed my nightly gchats with the boy. i missed catching up with the day's news while eating dinner in front of the puter.

what i gained, was long stretches of time which i found to be incredibly productive and therapeutic. after an exhausting day of work, instead of whiling away the time and decompressing online i cleaned my apartment, wrote letters, went to the gym, cooked dinner, and read. i could be quiet and at peace. without the opportunity to catch up over email and chat, i found myself enjoying phone conversations and outings with friends.

now that my lappy is back in working order, i feel slightly apprehensive. i suppose only time will tell whether my routine will continue as before or if i will succeed in finding a new equilibrium.

to all the fobs out there

2009-01-05T22:37:00.002-05:00

an interesting take on the old your momma joke. . but this feels somehow endearing and definately laugh inducing! and my fellow children of immigrants can most assuredly relate.

breaking with tradition

2009-01-01T22:32:00.002-05:00

after some thought, i've decided to break with new year's tradition and not make any resolutions. . . partially because i have the tendency to be over zealous in my goals and then find myself at year end feeling depressed for maintaining zero of said resolutions.

while some things are easy to change- where you live, your job and who you choose to spend- truly changing oneself is quite difficult. it requires constant attention, dedication, and getting back on the horse after you inevitably fall off. don't get me wrong- i'm all for the quest of self-improvement, believing that even when change does not happen in the way we want- there is something good that transpires from that effort.

so where does that leave me?

feeling fortunate for the life i live and open to new challenges, experiences and friends that 2009 will bring.

to the test

2009-01-01T18:41:00.000-05:00

not too long ago, i came across an article in the times about making the perfect chocolate chip cookie. i've never had a great love for baking and have always much preferred cooking. however, i was a bit intrigued. supposedly, the trick to making the perfect cookie is to let the batter rest for not 12 or 24, but 36 hours. only then, does the cookie take on an interesting complexity of flavors.

having an unusual abundance of free time this week, i decided to give it a try. after dinner with celestial on monday night, i came home and whipped up the cookie batter making some of the usual tweaks (kicking up the chocolateyness by adding a bar of lindt chocolate truffle) and not so usual changes (coconut extract vs vanilla). like every instance while mixing dough, i cursed the fact that i don't have a handmixer and that brown sugar always seems to harden too much. after i beat out all the lumps, i layed out a sheet of wax paper and shaped the batter into a cylinder that would faciliate refrigeration and cutting at a later date.

wed afternoon, i brought out the batter and baked the cookies. the differences that i noticed were batter that tasted more like shortbread- richer and more butter. beyond that, they were just as chocolate chip cookies should be . . . crunchy, chocolatey, and tasty. hmm. maybe i'll have to try again and do a blind taste testing. . .

all 4 love of cheesiness

2008-12-29T14:53:00.000-05:00

was at the gym working off my extra holiday pounds when color me badd's all 4 love came on. while i was trying not to laugh hysterically on the stairclimber, i came to a sudden realization. . . is it me or does mac from it's always sunny in philadelphia look amazingly similar to mark calderon? you be the judge. . .

culinary delgihts of bawdymore and vicinity

2008-12-29T01:14:00.002-05:00

i made two wonderful discoveries during my trip to baltimore/dc these past few days- (1) there is a rich range of good eats to be had in maryland/dc and (2) that the boy may actually be a foodie. i assumed the boy was simply indulgent of my sometimes peculiar habits (driving me to various markets and grocery stores so i could gawk at produce or gourmet selections) and enjoyed the outcome (me being happy and cooking a nice meal). however, the fact that our trip to visit his old stomping grounds was completely centered around restaurants revealed the boy's own love for food.

our first stop was sushi ko in washington dc which the boy had recommended with only a moderate level of enthusiasm. we both ordered the chef's selection of sashimi and shared a rainbow roll and eel & mushroom roll. i was completely blown away by the freshness of the fish- telltale signs of sweet meat that seems to melt in one's mouth. i will definately make a return visit the next time i'm in the area.

second was ben's chili bowl on u street- a late-night dining institution that has a prominent history in washington DC. people that eat for free at ben's are bill cosby and the obama family. following the unsaid but understood rules of dining at ben's, we queued to place our order, paid, waited to get our grub, and found tables in the back to sit at. we both ordered the half smoke with chili and cheese and shared an order of chili cheese fries. biting into the half smoke- i immediately noticed how succulent and flavorful the sausage was and enjoyed the nice snap of the casking. the chili and cheese added substance and rounded out the flavors in the sausage while seeming to provide the spice and excitement to the crisp fries. i left ben's completely sated.

osman's and joe's steak and egg kitchen was the third stop in DC. we split a tennessee scramble- diced ham, bacon, and sausage mixed with three eggs and served with biscuits and country gravy, a waffle, and two coffees. this is exactly the type of place i'd like to be open at 3 AM after a late night out. good, cheap food without the weird, twilight zone feeling i get at diners on the UES of new york. even more, the staff is nice, does their business, and have been around forever.

i can't remember how long i've been hearing about the amazing rosemary fries and beer at the brewer's art so it was great to finally experience it firsthand. as promised- both were amazing and perhaps the highlight of the night. the fries were cut slim and seemed to burst with garlic and fragrant herbs. i was impressed with the shrimp and cheese grits and thought it was much better than the momofuku version. the shrimp was perfectly executed, spicy and crispy all at once, they contrasted but did not overpower the grits. the duck meatballs were unremarkable and a letdown given its potential. the half chicken that we ordered was also well prepared, juicy and tender and served in a bourbon glaze. however, the bed of creamy polenta was the star of the entree and i would have been happier with just a huge bowl of it and done without the chicken. an overall impressive dining experience and i am inspired to try recreating the fries.

a last minute addition to the agenda was a trip to clyde's tower oaks lodge for dinner with the boy's sister and brother-in-law. this particular location was quaint and had a nice ambience though still feeling somewhat like a chain. the food was reasonably priced and above average in quality. we shared the artichoke and crab dip, tempura mushrooms, and fried oysters in a buffalo sauce. for my entree i had the crab cake special which had almost no filler and therefore completely hit the spot and satisfied my craving for crabcakes.

all in all, it was a wonderful foodie vacation. but after five days of non-stop eating, i'm looking forward to some simple home-cooked meals and lots of exercise!

christmas eve of sorts

2008-12-26T12:16:00.005-05:00

the boy and i got to philly on the later side of christmas eve- the kids were asleep and my parents were almost ready for bed (having both come down with a cold). so we helped ourselves to the leftover turducken, ham, green bean casserole, mac & cheese, and carrots. i was severely disappointed in herbert's turducken. not very tasty and a big letdown compared to the one i had had at a holiday party last year. . . in any case, i made up for it with my mom's ham which was as delicious as usual.

while the boy and i ate, my brother and sister kept us company. because my niece was sure to recongize her mom's handwriting, the boy was asked to write "santa's note" to the kids thanking them for the christmas cookies and chocolate milk. eventually, we went on to gift exchanges and watching video of the kids' christmas performances and a piano recital. full belly and a couple beers later, we fell asleep on the sofa watching p.s. i love you. i got maybe halfway through before i conked out- feeling that movies like that give women unrealistic expecations of love and romance.

the next morning, we were woken up by my niece looking for signs of santa. and sure enough, mostly eaten cookies on the plate and santa's note sealed the deal for my excited niece. although she called into question the familiar wrapping paper that her gifts were left with.

T: isn't that the wrapping paper that was at grandma's house?

sis: um i don't think so. shooting me a glaring look as i had convinced her that unwrapping the gifts would be unnecessary.

T: hey, this is a karaoke machine. grandma got me a karaoke machine. grandma, didn't you get me a karaoke machine?

grandma: i think santa must have gotten things mixed up in the delivery.

T: looking questioningly at my mom oh ok.

fortunately, she got excited about the other gifts and moved quickly on. the rest of the morning was filled with present unwrapping for the kids, eating pancakes and homemade crossiantwiches, and doing crafts. lovely time. just a bit too abbreviated.

he he he

2008-12-24T16:58:00.001-05:00

i watch a LOT of music videos while gymming. . . this made me laugh and i thought i'd share.

family gathering

2008-12-24T16:02:00.000-05:00

the holidays can be difficult when you work in retail. for the past couple of years, while everyone was visiting their families, i was working extended hours and never had enough time to travel home. my family had compensated by traveling up to see me when possible- three years ago they came up to nyc and stayed through christmas morning.

two years ago, i celebrated xmus with q2 catching a flick at the cinema, dinner at yokocho, and drinks at angel's share. last year the boy and i spent the day with his family, relaxing & enoying a more traditional dinner. while i have fond memories of both and enjoyed myself immensely, it feels more "right" to be with my family. . . so THIS year, i'm happy to say that i have some time off and will be heading to philly with the boy to spend xmus with the entire immediate family!

MERRY XMUS!!!

reading between the lines

2008-12-23T00:58:00.002-05:00

lovely dinner with eulalie tonight at felice.

i am often reminded of how lucky i have been in my life to meet such quality individuals who i can still consider close friends. these relationships all require and demonstrate a level of loyalty, honesty, and trust that allows the relationship to truly stand the test of time and distance. to me, the best relationships are ones in which two people let themselve be truly honest with one another. this is certainly not an easy way feat. which is why delicacy and sincere intentions are often critical to easing the delivery of hard truths.

on the surface, aside from sharing a passion for food, eulalie and i seem quite different. she is vibrant, talkative, and committed to development work. i am at times reserved, quiet and immersed in retail/fashion. nevertheless, we know and understand one another incredibly well which comes from our ability to be brutally honest. throughout the years, our talkouts have been therapeutic and constructive. allowing us to work through various issues and to see different viewpoints. and yet, sometimes, like tonight, i feel that the truth is not so easy to grasp.

the hotness

2008-12-21T20:09:00.003-05:00

i confess i may have a girl crush on boa kwon. . . as i'm sure all guys with an asian fetish and young asian men will appreciate.

saw her music video while gymming . . .
enjoy

very delicious

2008-12-18T23:51:00.000-05:00

i thought i had been to crif dogs before but i must be mistaken- because a trip to this heaven of hot dog treats is certainly unforgettable!!

i had the pleasure of going with the boy after watching CSS play at webster hall.

i ordered the good morning with chili (upon the recommendation of our server) and spicy redneck and the boy ordered the good morning also with chili and jon-jon deragon. the good morning was a all beef hotdog, wrapped in bacon, deep fried and topped with cheese a fried egg and chili! a heart attack waiting to happen! . . but comfort food at it's finest. . .the spicy redneck on the otherhand, was surprisingly sophisticated. the crunchiness/creaminess of the coleslaw added a complex dimension to the dog, making it a meal rather than a common ball park food. and a very delicious meal at that! the boy's jon-jon deragon was a play on the ny bagel with cream cheese, scallions, and the toppings for an everything bagel- a combination that sounds questionable at best but turned out to be one of the tastiest things i've ever eaten.

i have drunk the kool-aid. crif dogs rock.

tis the season

2008-12-15T19:09:00.002-05:00

there is an art to giving gifts and the ability to do it well. . is a wonderful *ahem* gift to have. . .
a single gift can communicate how well you know someone, your perception of that individual, your history, and your level of consideration and esteem for that person.

when done right, a gift can bring great happiness:

"i've been wanting X for over a year. thank you so much!"

and done wrong, can lead to misery all around.

on the bright side, i feel that there is not a great correlation between how much you spend and how much someone will like there gift (excluding those individuals who's requirement for a great gift is that it's expensive). a little bit of thoughtfulness goes a LONG way so perk up those ears and listen for those hints!

not my momma's beef stew

2008-12-14T13:43:00.001-05:00

the weather has had me hankering for comfort food so i decided to make beef stew for dinner saturday night. in preparation, the boy took me to stew leonard's to get groceries. like tara reid at beach week, i couldn't help but go a little crazy. i loaded up on fresh produce, cheese (wasabi, goat, and bbq wing flavored!), snacks, beef and buffalo trace. since i was already running behind schedule (the stew takes 3-4 hours of simmering time), i decided to keep my anxiety in check and warn my dinner guests that dinner would be an hour late.

we got home around 5:30 and i started preparing dinner. . . by 8:30, the crostini and wasabi meatballs were done just in time for our first guest's, british dave, arrival. by the time celestial arrived just minutes later, i could relax and just let the stew finish simmering.

the result of my first attempt at making beef stew? somewhat mixed. i altered the recipe to suit our palettes- almost doubling the meat portion and halving the amount of potatoes. while it was definately tasty and substantial- it was more like a beef bourguignon than the stew i grew up eating and had been craving. i guess no one else minded and in fact, the boys helped themselves to seconds.

the meatballs were a surprise hit along with the nifty nabber which we all took turns playing with. after consuming a hearty meal and a few bottles of wine, we all felt like calling it a night and ended up nixing our initial plans of going out. . .making it a nice winter's night in.

the annoyances of rainy weather

2008-12-11T23:14:00.003-05:00

i love the rain. thunderstorms during the summertime that feel like they shake the earth and leave the air smelling cleaner and cooler. falling asleep listening to raindrops steadily beating against the roof during the fall. day long glooms of rain when you're holed up inside under a warm blanket with a steaming mug of tea and a good book.

however, braving the wet windy rain while waiting for the bus that is terribly late because traffic is at a standstill twice in a day (twenty minutes this morning and almost and hour on the way home) is just plain miserable. what confounds me the most is that rain is not foreign to east coasters the way it is to southern californians so why everyone loses their wits and drives like they've never seen rain before, is a mystery.

hopefully it'll dry out by saturday. but i guess i shouldn't complain too much- afterall, at least i have a warm dry apartment to come home to.

playing with food

2008-12-10T23:50:00.002-05:00

taking food presentation to a whole other level!!!

bottoms up

2008-12-08T18:53:00.004-05:00

my mother is from a different era, raised in a cultural landscape where gender stereotypes were deeply ingrained and straightforward.

according to her, a good woman. . .

dresses smartly- never too much skin
speaks quietly and does not laugh too loudly in public
does not flirtwith men
gets married and has children (otherwise she's not a woman)
does not drink more than a glass of wine (in private is occasionally ok)
and so on. . .

a couple weekends ago when i was having dinner with the boy and our parents are felice, my mom gave me a knudge and look as if to say "are you sure that's a good idea? what will his parents think!" when the boy poured a healthy second glass of wine for me. i motion to their almost empty glasses of wine and shoot her a look back that says "don't worry, they are completely fine with it!"

in truth, my mom has never been comfortable with the idea that her daughter likes to drink. the fact that i always drink responsibly and know my limit does not really matter. it would be different if i were a boy as evidenced by the fact that she has never raised issue with my brother. needless to say, i found this article particularly interesting. and can just imagine my mom's chagrin (note: i would never condone binge drinking or dependency on alcohol but think in moderation, alcohol can be part of a fairly healthy life).

experimenting with seitan

2008-12-07T22:13:00.001-05:00

seitan it's a funny word. i always feel like i'm mispronouncing it or trying not to say satan. it's "say tan" or wheat gluten which i've never prepared before.

the occasion was dinner with the nose and his new boyfriend, a vegetarian. having grown accustomed to a protein/mean intensive diet over the past few years, this was going to be a culinary challenge for me. the nose's assurance that his boyfriend was very understanding of us carnivores did not ease my concerns. but, what kind of a host would i be if i didn't make sure that the meal was tasty, filling, and pleasing to every guest?

in the end, i decided on thai food: vegetarian green curry, red curry fried seitan and greenbeans, coconut rice, lemongrass shrimp skewers -for the meat eating contingent- and almond tofu dessert. i was easily able to purchase a package of seitan at an organic/health food store in my neighborhood. i was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to work with! i think i am a convert and will start integrating more seitan into my every day cooking (seitan chili maybe?).

dinner was completely prepared with half an hour to spare before my guests arrived. all the recipes fell into place and the spicy dishes paired well with the white wines that the nose brought. it was one of my most relaxing dinner parties- everyone drank and ate a lot, conversation flowed smoothly, and the time flew by.

the girl in me

2008-12-06T10:34:00.002-05:00

somehow this friday seemed particularly slow in coming but come it did.

celestial and i decided to meet up at boka for dinner. . somehow original plans to check out tet were derailed as the idea of bon chon chicken won us both over. we split a large order of wings and seafood pajun. i think boka is still perfecting and unfortunately worsening their act. the wings were smaller. the pajun recipe changed. AND the prices are a little higher. it's still a good option in st marks which keeps me going back. . but not sure for how long.

after dinner, we decided to wander over to crocodile lounge where we indulged in skee ball, photoboothing, and free pizza!

the skee ball made us both want to bowl so we decided to head to bowlmor to see if there was a wait. on the way, we noticed that forever 21 was still open and ended up having a shopping/trying on clothes spree. another girlish form of fun. good times.

a vampirey weekend

2008-12-04T13:05:00.000-05:00

this has been an unusually hectic week- heavy work load compounded by the fact that i'm still catching up from missing work days due to jury duty and three sessions of training. to head things off, i've been going into work even earlier than usual- around 7ish.

which means that by 6pm, i'm totally sapped. thursday was no different. the boy and i had tickets for vampire weekend at terminal 5 but there was time to kill while he made the trek out to manhattan. luckily, megs was free and so we took the opportunity to catch up over happy drinks at tg whitney (2 for 1 drinks on thursdays). while midtown/uptown bars are generally not my scene- the place was not terribly douchey, the drinks were cheap and wine generously poured, and minutes away from work. good find.

traffic was sufficiently sucky so that the boy and i got to the show just in time to catch vampire weekend's first song but not in time to snag a balcony spot with a clear view of the stage. so i settled for hopping and moving around to get glimpses here and there. after some time, a visibly and endearingly enthusiastic fan offered to let me stand in his spot for half of a song. overall a good show- vampire weekend sounds just as good live as pre-recorded and the crowd was earnest. i do believe the streak of bad luck has been broken!

civic duties

2008-12-02T19:44:00.002-05:00

i'm the weird bird that hates to miss work- mostly b/c it means i'll come back to a shitstorm of work when i finally do make it back. that and i believe my pops instilled just a little bit of his work-acoholicism onto me.

needless to say i was not looking forward to jury duty the week of thanksgiving. worst case scenario- i'd be selected for a criminal case, be sequestered, and have to spend my thanksgiving vacation in court. best case scenario- i'd miss a day of work and have to forgo my halfday and catch up on emails and vendor requests.

in the end- i lucked out and ended up enoying two days off of work. i did a lot of reading and was interviewed for a spot on the "back up" jury. it was an interesting assessment process.

i arrived at 8:45, by 9am, the waiting room was mostly full. one of the attendants turned on a cheesy film featuring a young diane sawyer about the importance of the jury and fulfilling one's civic duty. two hours of waiting. fire drill where we all filed out into the hallway before being asked to return to our seats. another half hour of waiting. FINALLY, my name is one of twelve to be called for jury selection.

all the interviewees filled out a form. we were released for an hour lunch break so the lawyers could review our profiles before reconvening. the plantiff's lawyer introduced the case of an individual who was suing the city of new york for negligence after slipping in the snow. then, the plantiff questioned us all one by one. next the defendant's (the city of new york) lawyer gave a rebuttal type speech and did his rounds of questioning.

i guess i should have known it was a done deal when i said that i thought that americans are too litigious and that individuals need to take more personal responsiblity?

lipstick jungle

2008-11-30T13:57:00.002-05:00

i'm not an avid tv watcher. there are definately shows that i enjoy- it's always sunny in philadelphia, lipstick jungle, project runway and etc. but more often then not, i forget what night it's on, make plans, etc. consequently, i end up watching the show online or on dvd.

sadly, one of the shows i actually do make it a point to watch, lipstick jungle, may not be renewed for a third season. while it may not be the best show in the world, i can somehow relate to the characters, their struggles and lives. it's one show that my girlfriends and i all watch and will call one another to discuss.

since chain emails are not my thing- i'll post the petition to save the show here and hope you won't mind taking a second to sign.

vegetarian delights

2008-11-29T14:52:00.000-05:00

even in a city which has an immensely diverse and rich dining landscape, i had been somewhat skeptical about going to an all vegetarian restaurant. perhaps because there is a limited number of purely vegetarian or vegan restaurants compared to a sizeable and relatively affluent vegetarian/vegan population in nyc, i suspected that most would get by making merely "acceptable" or "so-so" cuisine. so it was with great curiosity and a bit of nervousness (as i generally like to only recommend restaurants that i've been to), that i sought out such a restaurant to take the boy's sister, wafer, and brother-in-law.

the first choice, dirt candy, was booked so i spent a couple of hours researching vegetarian restaurants and calling to make reservations. in the end, the boy and i decided on counter, a restaurant i'd walked by many a time but never had particular reason to try out. the reviews were promising and fortunately the restaurant did not disappoint.

we were half an hour early and the host eagerly sat us at a table in the back. the atmosphere was cozy and while the decor was not quite "organic", was pleasant and comfortable. we shared the hummus tahini and mezze of corn beignets, panisse with aioli, and mushroom orleans. the boy and i both ordered the eastside burger while his sister and brother-in-law ordered the farmhouse panini. for drinks, i tried a glass of north fork cabarnet-merlot, wafer ordered the pear spritzer, and the boys ordered wolaver beers.

along with the drinks, the waitress brought a plate of spongy toasted bread and a delicious spread composed of tofu and sesame oil. the mezze and appetizers were amazing. the corn beignets were essentially fancified hush puppies, the chickpea fries a sophisticated cousin of the french fry, with the perfect amount of crispness and a subtle hint of chickpea earthiness. button mushrooms were fried and laid on top of a rich sauce. the hummus was solid and the yummy, chewy pita accompanying it was too good to resist. the eastside burger was a blend of wild mushroom pate, seitan, and fresh herbs and quite possibly the most satisfying veggie burger i've had to date.

kudos to counter! a vegetarian bistro with a playfood approach to food and excellent execution. among each dish was an interesting play of texture, well placed punches of flavor, and substantial portions. comfort food to satisfy any type of eater. will have to remember to save room for dessert next time.

the sunny side

2008-11-23T20:55:00.001-05:00

during times like the present- when one is constantly bombarded with grim headlines, a bleak economic and job environment, and a sense of uncertainty- it's important to find solace and take comfort in happy things. i found myself fortunate enough to spend my weekend celebrating several special occasions including the birthdays of close friends and news of an addition to the boy's family.

saturday night was dinner at dressler to celebrate theng's 30th birthday. especially delightful because i've been wanting to try it out ever since the boy and i had drinks at the bar this past june. luckily, it did not fail my expecations. the restaurant is beautifully decorated and excudes a sense of warmth and history. the service was adequate although i secretely thought the waitress was trying to upsell me on wine rather than really try to recommend something i would like. although on a positive note, we were never rushed despite staying until midnight.

for appetizers, we ordered the baked scallop special and the warm artichoke heart salad. entrees included the long island duck, braised short ribs & grilled hanger steak, and the bacon wrapped monkfish. dessert included bamboo honey panna cotta and a fig tartine topped with vanilla ice cream.

while there were some slight missteps- the duck was a little lacking in flavor and the fig tartine was unremarkable- the overall execution was excellent. the dishes were perfectly grilled, seared, sauteed, or baked- showcasing the freshness and quality of the meats and vegetables . i'll definately have to go back and sample some of the other dishes- and you can bet i'll be dreaming about their warm artichoke heart salad until then!

so-sucky-to

2008-11-18T23:01:00.002-05:00

met up with VK for dinner near work. normally we head downtown but she had an appointment in the high 50s and i had work to catch up on so we decided to take our chances with restaurants in midtown. work was so busy i didn't have time to do much research.

consequently, we settled on sofrito which was a block away from my office and had come highly recommended from a co-worker awhile back. good food, big portions, and fun was what i was assured.

good food? meh.
big portions? definately. but of "meh" food, so what?
fun? if your idea of fun is not being able to hear anything that your dinner companion is saying, sure.

i should have listened to what my gut was telling me after our 30 second initial interaction with our waiter orlando. which was, "leave! it's not too late- you haven't ordered yet!"

the hostess seats us at the table which we later learn is directly across from the live singer/pianist. shortly after, someone brings a plate of garlic bread, water and our menus. within a minute, our waiter comes by, tells us about our specials and ask what we'd like to drink. there is only a cocktail menu.

V: what kind of wine do you have?

ORL: (looking at me as though i've asked a ridiculous question) red and white.

V: is that a house red or white? how much is it by glass?

ORL: $8 or $9

what the f? no description of what type of wine it is? and not sure about the price? so maybe i don't want it?

V: no thanks, i'll just have water.

the waiter pauses, turns quickly, and walks away from our table. about 10 minutes later he returns for our dinner order. VK orders the watercress salad and ham & pea stew. with a concerned expression, orlando asks if that's the appetizer. VK assures him that that's her dinner order. i order the sofrito chopped salad and the ham & pea stew. he walks away.

VK and i try to make conversation over the blaring music and loud parties nearby. because we are both soft talkers, i am quickly worn out from the effort. reprieve when our salads arrived. i had decided to order a glass of wine but found it extremely difficult as my waiter was gone in a flash and every attempt to get his attention were unsucessful. obviously he had written us off as a cheap table. eventually, another server noticed and asked me if i needed anything. i asked for a glass of red wine (because hey, isn't that all they have?). the waiter asked me to specify. oh, so apparently there are options? the waiter left to get our waiter.

ORL: you want a glass of wine?

V: yes, red please.

ORL: what kind?

V: what do you have?

ORL: cabernet, merlot, and shiraz.

V: the cabernet please.

the rest of the dinner was downhill. the salads were good, the stews were enormous- filling but somewhat bland. the music only got louder with birthday festivities and salsa music. we quickly got out of there and looking for another place that we could grab a drink and finish catching up. we wound up at cafe joul which was surprisingly busy for a tuesday night but cozy and not too loud. good find. nice atmosphere. but maybe anything would seem wonderful after sofrito. don't get me wrong- i could see sofrito being a good option for a crazy and loud girl's night out. guess it's just not my cup of tea.

the trouble with winging it

2008-11-16T13:45:00.003-05:00

my mom is an amazing cook. she's of the school that cooks by taste rather than careful measurement or guidance of a recipe. compounded by the fact that i have limited opportunities to cook with my mom, this has made learning how to make the comfort foods i've grown up with extremely challenging. on my outstanding list of dishes to master is the vietnamese crepes, or banh xeo.

having invited kev and theng over for dinner, it seemed like as good of an opportunity as any to make a go of it. by 7ish, i had everything prepped- the shrimp & beef for rice paper rolls were cleaned, cut, and seasoned and the fixings were cleaned and drying. for the crepes- the ground pork/shrimp fillings were stir fried and the batter was mixed.

now it was show time. i carefully followed the recipe instructions- reheating the pork & shrimp mixture in the pan and moving it to one side of the pan before pouring the batter in. i let the mixture heat up and waited for the edges to pull away from the pan. i tried to loosen the edges with the tip of the spatula but the batter remained gooey and thick. this made matters worse and the crepe quickly became an ugly heap of beansprouts meat, and batter which i transferred with much difficulty onto a cookie sheet covered in foil.

deep breath. ok, that's just one wasted crepe.

i re-read the instructions and began again.

again. huge ugly pile. the batter was not getting stiff enough to fold over into a crepe.

now i was cursing. deciding that the recipe was useless, i made a third attempt and just winged it. i watered down the batter a little. lowered the heat. added a little extra oil to the pan and started again. i poured a more generous portion of batter and let it harden in the pan. finally! the edges pulled away and the batter solidified enough so i could lift and fold the crepe in half. transferring the crepe onto the cookie sheet was much easier and i had successfully made one crepe.

unfortunately, i had used up most of the batter in the process and i was out of coconut milk. the boy sensing my frustration, suggested soy milk instead. i looked at him doubtfully but figured (1) i couldn't lose anything and (2) it was definately thicker than water. luckily, the last crepe turned out well and i had four presentable crepes to serve!!! the rest of the night was a piece of cake.

surprises

2008-11-14T23:54:00.000-05:00

while waiting for ricki-tin-tin at kanoyama (yes, it's becoming VERY regular) i spotted rachel weisz and her son. i've lived in nyc long enough to at least attempt not to notice and certainly not to take a camera pic. how gauche! instead, i settled with taking periodic side glances. she's absolutely stunning without a lick of makeup, consequently i would not describe as runway glam, but undeniably beautiful. her son was adorable, dressed in a some getup with cows printed all over it. nice celebrity spotting!

after dinner, i got back home and tidied up the apartment. the boy arrived some time after 11pm and had not eaten dinner. we decided to scope out some neighborhood grub and ended up at blockheads where he ordered a burrito and nachos. while not the best mexican i've had in my life- it was definately good, affordable mexican. . .and i do have a weakness for nachos.

sigh. this could be dangerous for my resolve to eat healthier. . .

joy by the kilo

2008-11-10T23:26:00.000-05:00

living in los angeles had several effects on me: taken me down a few notches on the type A scale, unveiled my love for farmer's markets, deepened my appreciation for the ocean and made me a huge fan of mexican food. needless to say, i am always on the lookout for good mexican restaurants which means fresh, tasty food for not a ton of money. this has not been easy to find- granted my search thus far has been limited to manhattan. i was delighted to discover mercadito a frew years ago and it has been on my roster of favorite nyc restaurants ever since.

the opening of mercadito cantina earlier this fall was very exciting. . . it wasn't until this past friday that i had the opportunity to check it out. the wait was worthwhile.

walking into the restaurant, one instantly recalls the ambience and aestetic of momofuku. lots of warm colored wood, long, high tables, and lots of stools.

the boy and i ordered two types of guacamole -toreado (sautéed chile serrano, garlic, oregano, tomatillo pico de gallo) and calabaza (cinnamon spiced pumpkin, tomatillo pico de gallo, roasted jalapeño, toasted pumpkin seeds) to start and a kilo (!) of
carnitas de puerco, or michoacàn style braised berkshire pork that was served family style/make your own taco. it's funny that i've eaten this way so many times- vietnamese rice paper rolls, korean bbq, etc- but have never done so with mexican food. it makes so much sense. the food was incredible. . . hands down the best mexican guacamole i've ever tasted. . . the carnitas was flavorful, slow cooked to perfection. the tortillas were fresh. . . unfortunately are eyes were bigger than our stomachs and we only got halfway through the meat.

the waitress/manager was a doll and gave us dessert on the house. goat cheese flan. while i love goat cheese i was a bit apprehensive. my fears were for naught. the flan was delicious and the only difference from a typical flan was a slightly firmer texture which i actually enjoyed.

so kudos to the mercadito crew. we'll be back. and often.

last hurrah

2008-11-09T10:48:00.004-05:00

the fact that celestial, Q2, and i actually manage to have a proper sleepover (yes jammies and girl movie; no pillowfights) is the weekend before Q2 moves to china is somewhat bittersweet. . . but a fun night and lovely memory nevertheless.

the girls were already in full dinner prep mode by the time i arrived at celestial's apartment in LIC. simple but delicious meal: cold tofu topped with edamame and a dark brown sauce, marinated black cod, stir fried chicken, and okonomiyaki. after dinner we headed across the street to pick up movie watching snacks before settling down to watch the SATC movie and stay up chatting til the wee hours.

the next morning was a slow start but eventually we made our way to chinatown for dim sum at chatham square restaurant. the tripe, beef intensines, and shrimp roll were really good but sadly the turnip cake was a let down- although that didn't stop me from polishing off a healthy portion. we walked Q2 back to her place and said our goodbyes. short and sweet.

as celestial and i walked away and went off to run various errands, i asked her if she was ok. she said she was fine, that for her, the reality won't really hit until days after.

i think for me. . . her absence will be felt more subtly. it'll be when i go some place that we've been to together or something triggers a memory of an experience we shared. . . like celebrating christmas at angel's share three years ago, or brunching at crooked tree, or checking out jewlery in the east village boutiques.

new york won't be quite the same.

change

2008-11-04T23:46:00.002-05:00

tonight- feeling that my faith in the people has been restored.

as i walked the streets of nyc, i listened to the joyous shouts resounding from various homes, restaurants, and bars- echoing a shared hope for a new beginning. enjoy and be encouraged by this moment. . . for it will require strength, courage, and wisdom to get through the coming year.

but in the end, while it may get worse before it gets better- it will get better.

the smith

2008-11-04T21:09:00.000-05:00

catching up with british dave has been long overdue! while there have been various group outings- it's always difficult to have any extended conversation in those settings.

the plan was to grab a quick bite at the smith and then go watch the election results at dba afterwards. . . i've been curious about the smith for quite some time- drawn the idea of their sunday special $12 burger + beer plus every time i've walked by there has been a decent crowd and reviews have been positive. walking into the smith, there was a sense of familiarity and i was reminded of the decor of schillers or pastis. as i looked over the menu, i noticed all the prices have gone up by $1-2 from what's posted on nymag's website. . . both british dave and i opted for the burger medium well with a side of greens.

the burger was deliciously simple- the saltiness of the bacon complemented the sharpness of the cheese and smooth flavor of the ground meat. encased in a lightly toasted seedless bun and topped off with a house sauce, fresh white onions, tomatoes, and a leafy green- smith's burger delivered. will definately go back for the sunday special.

unfortunately with so much gabbing we never made it to dba. good thing my friends were keeping me in the loop via text!

for the tykes

2008-10-30T20:51:00.000-04:00

as often is the case, there are many activites and places that i don't explore unless i have visitors in town. . . but that's how i found myself having tea at the american girl's salon monday afternoon. it was an interesting concept- little girls dress in their finest outfits with their american girl doll(s) in hand. the room is girly but chic- lots of black, white and pink. there is even an attachable seat for your american girl to sit right beside you.

the menu: scones, tea sandwiches (chicken salad, turkey & brie, and ham & cheddar), delicate cookies, banana bread, mini cinnamon buns, brownies, chocolate mousse and orange slice shaped jello wedges.

while the food was nothing to write home about- the experience was clearly delightful for the american girl fans. after stuffing ourselves with more sugar than i can handle, we explored the collection of american girl dolls and memoriabilia on sale. bless her sweet soul- my poor niece was simply overwhelmed, agonizing for a good while over the assortment- wanting the prettiest and best pieces but not wanting to spend too much of her parents money. after consulting with her mom- she picked out a nellie doll, a new gown for samantha, some school supplies, and a coat for nellie.

then it was time to meet up with the boys who were biding their time at fao schwartz just up the road. we brought their booty back to the hotel and rested for a bit before heading to dinner at blue ribbon sushi bar & grill. compared to blue ribbon sushi on sullivan- i couldn't help but be disappointed. while the dishes were well executed, the sushi fresh, and the service adequately attentive- the experience was . . . dare i say it, unremarkable and boring.

babysitting

2008-10-28T23:44:00.002-04:00

today was a dreary day with buckets of rain and heavy winds making trekking about manhattan a bit of a pain. nevertheless, after a quick trip to the gym, i got myself together and headed crosstown to meet up with chi, big guy, t and wes. they had gotten bagels at H&H (unfortunately disappointed by the fact that H&H doesn't toast, slice, or spread cream cheese on the bagels for you) and were waiting for me at starbucks. after i devoured a breakfast sandwich and dried off a bit, we headed out to the children's museum. it was my first time there and it's truly a great destination for small children- four levels of interactive games and some very clever, well thought out ones as well. wes had a grand time playing fireman, t loved playing "grocery shopping", but by the time we reached the "block party" on the lower level the kids interest was wanning. in kid fashion though, as soon as the decision was made to leave for lunch, wes wanted to stay. but the adults won out and we grabbed a quick bite at cafe lola across the street.

after lunch, the fam headed back to the hotel so the kids could nap and i headed home to get some quiet time. a couple hours later, it was time to brave the cold again as i hopped on the m31 to their hotel to babysit so that my sister and her husband could have date night and dinner at hearth. it was an interesting two and a half hours with the kids- starting with pizza dinner via ray's pizza and watching game plan on a tiny dvd player and me having to explain why parents still need to have date night.

t: why do they have to have dates? they are already married!
v: because that's how they stay in love.
t: but they already love each other, they are married.
v: it's important for mommy and daddy to have time alone. adult time. where they can focus on each other. they love spending time with you and wes but date nights are important for their relationship.

after t stopped feeling upset and cheered up, we all had a grand time playing with t's american girl dolls and weston the night, watching family guy, watching wes and t give an impromptu performance from hairspray and DRAWING (if you can't tell, it's me and the boy)!!

meat pie

2008-10-21T22:17:00.003-04:00

last week was a strange week. workwise- there seemed to be a million deadlines and i felt like i was being pulled from every angle. unnecessary personal drama made sleep challenging. the highlights included a rekindling of an old friendship over dinner and drinks and a night of dress shopping. nonetheless, come friday i was combatting undeniable tired headaches and weariness.

after work i picked up an assortment of meatpies from tuck shop including traditional ground beef, thai green chook curry, guinness steak and mushroom, and shrimp pie!! i don't know if it was the anticipation of finally getting to eat tuck shop's pie's after talking about it for months or my fatigue, but i devoured a whole pie on the way to the bus stop and cannot recall the last time food felt so satisfying to my soul.

luckily, the boy was on the same wavelength and we decided to lazy the night away. we rented braincandy and forgetting sarah marshall, stopped at duane reade for candy, and headed back home. after reheating the pies in the oven, i cut each in half and accompanied by a brooklyn pilnser, we had the perfect meat pie smorgasboard. with a belly full of food, it's unsurprising that i fell asleep 2/3rds of the way through braincandy!

from philly cheese to gourmet kittichai

2008-10-13T20:41:00.004-04:00

this weekend was a whirlwind. friday late afternoon, the boy and i headed to philly to catch TVOTR show. traffic was congested but moving and with two pit stops- we managed to get to my brother's place by 8:15. . . unfortunately, it's a string of bad luck and disappointment, first mike viola and now this. maybe it was too large of a venue or too many elements required to come together for TVOTR to sound as good live as on album. whatever it is, it didn't live up to my high expectations for what has been among my favorite bands and for a new album which i truly enjoy.

nonetheless, it was a nice way to spend a friday night. after the show, we went to jim's for steak sandwiches. i should have gotten whiz or american on it, the provolone added little flavor and i wish i could have a side of hot sauce to spice it up. since the brother and wifey had work the next day, we called it an early night and headed back to their place to watch tv and go to bed early.

saturday was all about relaxing. i got up, went on a run where i almost got knocked over by an absent minded driver. once the boy was up, we made breakfast and lounged on the sofa watching clueless then pretty woman. around 5 we headed out to check out reload and sated the boy's curiosity and appreciation for bags. north 4th ended up being a cute area and we browsed around the boutiques before heading back home to meet up with everyone for dinner. we went to a byob italian restaurant not too far away and overloaded on carbs. we ordered pumpkin ravioli and baby neck clams served with peppers and panchetta to share and after considerable deliberation, i ended up ordering eggplant parmigiana with a side of meatballs. the apps were good, the bread fresh and homemade, and my dish was hearty and satisfying. the meatballs were so so. we all waddled our way back home and plunked down on the sofa (ahh, suburban life), ate some homemade pumpkin and apple pie, and watched a few episodes of it's always sunny before falling asleep mid-episode.

sunday was a slow start- the better part of the morning was spent drinkin coffee and chatting with the boy, brother, and wifey in the kitchen. around 2pm we started our drive back to manhattan and were back at my place by 4:15. i quickly got ready for the wedding i was accompanying celestial to at hotel thompson. it was a gorgeous night to get married and the first thai wedding i've been to. . . the evening started with passed drinks on the rooftop, a small cozy space with amazing views of the city. the small guest list of 75 or so people milled around and sounds of thai, chinese, and english could be heard. all of a sudden, a man's shrill voice began a soulful chant and his moans and singing urged the guests on. soon everyone had cleared the path for an "aisle" and clapping to the rhythm of the song. the ceremony was thoughtful and symbolic. the ceremony ended as it began, with the same man leading the way with song for the bridal party to exit.

the reception that followed at kittichai was a foodie's dream!!! i can still recall the freshness and nuanced delicacy of the sashimi of hamachi, squid ink salt, and red holland pepper dressing, coconut. the chicken relish with crispy jasmine rice crackers was tasty and playful. the chocolate baby back ribs with thai spices was indulgent and rich while the baked chilean sea bass marinated in yellow salted beans and morning glory was simple perfection.

what a wonderful way to end the weekend!

testing the waters

2008-10-10T00:04:00.003-04:00

tonight is probably the closest thing to a blind date that i've experienced. the set up was via taz and the "date" was marzipan, a newcomer to nyc.

the first correspondence was during the summer when marzipan was still living in michigan. we agreed to meet up for dinner once she was settled in with new apartment, job and etc. the summer flew by and a few weeks ago, i got an email asking about a good time to hang out. a couple cancellations later brings us to tonight, where we finally were able to meet at kanoyama for sushi.

i arrived a few minutes early and grabbed us a table- good thing- the restaurant filled up to capacity shortly after. marzipan walked in shortly after and the initial greeting- when i reached out my hand for a shake and she went in for a hug-was awkward. . . but by the time we had finished deciding what to order and had a couple cups of otokoyama, conversation flowed easily and naturally.

we shared a delicious meal of lightly fried, succulent and substantial oysters, an appetizer sampler, and a couple rolls. over the course of dinner, i learned that marzipan was originally from uruguay and has lived in albany, switzerland, michigan, and now new york city. i liked her easy laugh, genuine interest, openess not to mention her love for food! it was an all around nice evening and i think we'll try filipino food next.

where in the world is V?

2008-10-09T00:04:00.002-04:00

i have not forsaken my beloved blog but rather had issues with accessing my account for which i blame gmail. for some bizarre reason, i simply could not log in with my usual password and although it was resolved, it all still remains a mystery.

after that was miraculously resolved, i almost immediately became preoccupied with finding a venue for my birthday dinner party at the end of the month. it has been a tradition among my friends to have an intimate dinner then drinks with a larger group after. this year's festivities have been thrown off by the impending descension of the V-clan to nyc on october 25th.

consequently, i decided to have dinner/drinks with my friends on friday and a family dinner on saturday. for some months, i had settled on the notion of felice as a perfect dinner venue. intimate and nice atmosphere, excellent food and wine, reasonable prices, and exceptional service. i called monday night to make a reservation only to be told that the restaurant was booked out for the evening, but if i was willing to do thursday or saturday night, they could accomodate me.

i hung up the phone in frustration. i had my mind set on felice and had to start from scratch. over the course of the next two days and nights, i wracked my memory, nymag, and the brains of my best girlfriends to come up with another perfect venue.

one by one they were all nixed.

too expensive.

can't accomodate a large party on friday night.

too expensive.

already booked.

too expensive.

all the iterations and effort was wearing me out. while i normally don't mind planning things and in fact enjoy it- nothing was falling into place and i couldn't even remember what i wanted anymore. then finally, q2 suggested georgia's eastside bbq. simple. good food. reasonable prices. byob. perfect. more importantly, it just felt right.

"Stella!!!"

2008-09-30T00:45:00.002-04:00

went to bloomies on my way home from work last thursday to pick up some shoes that i had presold.

i had to flag down three different associates to find out where to retrieve my merchandise. apparently in an effort to be more organized- there was a presell pick up area with one associate designated specifically to hand out pre-sells. FABULOUS!

unfortunately, the person was completely MIA. . and waiting in line before me was stella from project runway!! looking and sounding far more normal in person that what the show makes her out to be. . . sure, she was a bit annoyed with the wait but she was surprisingly patient and didn't show much 'tude. in any case, i asked her if she had seen anyone working at the pick up area. after she said "no", i awkwardly stood behind her and tried not to be too obvious about checking her out.

guess it's not so crazy of a siting- she is from astoria after all.

mesmerizing

2008-09-30T00:42:00.001-04:00

more of the fabulous tay zonday

aye aye captain

2008-09-29T00:36:00.002-04:00

i promised the captain a report of my evening watching isaac mizrahi's band. yes- the one and only isaac mizrahi- fashion designer extraordinaire, author, actor, and aspiring cabaret performer!!!

about a month ago, megs had emailed me saying that isaac mizrahi's band, The Ben Walzter Quintet, was performing at joe's pub at the end of september. always game for new and interesting experiences- i opted to go. i had no idea what to expect- except the promise that mizrahi would "chat, take your questions, sing, sketch and maybe even do a jig".

indeed, there was chatting and pleny of singing, but sadly (?) no sketching or jigging.

whle i certainly had not high hopes of mizrahi's performing chops, i was pleasantly surprised. clearly, mizrahi was a well rounded individual with many skills and interests- and the current focus (besides taking on the task of reinventing and revitailizing liz claiborne) was a career as a performer. the music was pure bluesy/jazzy stuffs,. mizrahi actually had a decent singing voice but more importantly, showed a genuine passion for performing, an excellent repetoire with guests, and good sense of humor.

songs were interjected with little stories, jokes, and a little re-gift giving to his guests (i scored a hideous vase shaped like a dress which will forever serve as a makeup brush/tooth brush holder).

the show was completely enjoyable and somehow felt like a very "new york" experience. while not needing a repeat performance, it was a completely satisfactory way to spend three hours of my weekend.

one door closes. . .

2008-09-27T13:54:00.002-04:00

funny how things work out.

taz had introduced me to mag via email several months ago- she was moving to tribeca in august with her husband and didn't know many people in nyc. always happy to make new friends, we decided to meet for dinner once mag was feeling more settled in. several rounds of email and we had picked a date and restaurant.

thursday came, overcast and dreary. . i was feeling a little run down from the week but was still game for meeting up. lo and behold- mag's was worn out herself and we decided to postpone until next thursday.

minutes later, i get an email from dandy asking me if i was free for a drink. it's always difficult meeting up with dandy- since we both tend to keep busy schedules but he's much more spontaneous while my plans tend to be set in advance. so despite having started to look forward to relaxing at home, i decided to meet up for dinner. we settled on boka, a new korean restaurant on st.marks.

the restaurant is downstairs and a narrow space with a bar up front and tables in the back with trendy decor and thumping music. dandy was sitting at the bar reading a book and having a beer. we grabbed a table and after purusing the menu- ordered some edamame, the gal bi bi bim bap, and a medium order of bon chon chicken. i was pleased that the food was solid- especially nice considering we were in the east village and not in k-town. the bon chon chicken was not quite as good as that at rock star music factory, while the skin was spot on, the chicken was slightly bulbous which threw me off. in any case, boka was a great find and it may become a new regular.

home early

2008-09-24T14:06:00.002-04:00

i've mentioned feeling a little out of whack lately- but the face staring- nay- i should say squinting back at me in the bathroom mirror made me do a double take. my left eye was so swollen and puffy i could only half open it. i inched my face towards the mirror to better inspect the damage.

no mucus or liquid. check.
no redness. check.
no itchiness. check.

i decided to go sans makeup and contacts rather than risk irritiating my bad eye any more. the upside is i was out the door in 15 minutes from getting out of bed. i knew that my boss would be concerned so i avoided her for the better part of the morning. of course, she inevitably noticed and despite assuring her that i wasn't in pain and felt fine, she suggested i see a doctor and insisted i go home early. so i wrapped up the key tasks for the day and headed home.

on the ride, i spotted carl at the M15 limited bus stop and sitting in the back of my bus, an old guy with a 40 oz can of budweiser. it was 1pm. weird.

music videos

2008-09-18T23:16:00.003-04:00

was at the gym doing cardio and flipping through the music channels trying to find a song with a fast beat. then i became mesmerized by tainted love by soft cell. it's a song i've always loved though the lyrics are somewhat bittersweet.

never realized how weird the video is.

meetings

2008-09-17T22:10:00.002-04:00

today was one of those days with non-stop meetings. the only time i got anything done was from 8:30-10 AM before my first meeting and from 5:30-8:30 after my last meeting and the office was empty.

frustrating that i still didn't get everything i needed to get done, done. and i fear that tomorrow is just going to be a repeat.

so here, i'm gonna remind myself of a line from eulalie.

it doesn't matter.

it's the perk of working in an industry that doesn't involve saving people's lives or anything so serious.

a little out of whack

2008-09-15T22:22:00.004-04:00

perhaps it was the hot and humid summer weekend followed by two very fall like days, or the fact that it's starting to get dark by 6:30 pm, or the nonstop meetings and deadlines at work that leave no time to really think rather shift into overdrive mode. . . but i find myself feeling a bit out of sorts. losing track of time- which is very unlike me, oversleeping way too often, and having difficulty falling into routine.

i'm hoping to kickstart my morning tomorrow with some gym time and coffee, put a solid 9 or 10 hours, and end the day with an art exhibit with meg. . . but it's probably overly ambitious and we'll see what the day brings. . .

mixed bag

2008-09-15T22:22:00.003-04:00

went out for happy hour drinks (i know, i know, it's a monday), but it's been our (not well kept) tradition of drinking of the 15th of the month, with some work friends. we decided to meet up at sunburnt cow for their 2 for 1 drink and aussie burger specials. it was a particularly special night as there were two birthdays in the group.

the conversation flowed from seeing issac mizrahi's band at joe's pub and seeing vampire weekend at the delancey for $5 to weddings in puerto rico to views on teaching creationism and evolution and lid tossing competitions. it started to sink in how amazing it was that we had all become good friends despite having such different backgrounds and stories. i suppose it helps that we are all generally speaking, fun loving and open minded people.

and i felt grateful for working in the company that i do, which has allowed me to develop some amazing friendships with people who i may not normally encounter or really get to know otherwise.

new find!

2008-09-14T21:43:00.003-04:00

woke up feeling not so great this morning- late night with one too many cocktails, not enough water, and not enough sleep. got up around 8:45 and debated about going to the gym but decided to go back to bed. i fell back in and out of sleep thinking about a toasted multigrain bagel with light lox from the bagel store on the corner of 78th and 1st ave.

around 11, i got my butt out of bed and headed to the gym. midway through work out, celestial texted me and asked if we could move dim sum up to 1:30. the thought of savory chinese food wone out and i cut my cardio minutes by 15 minutes and raced home to shower and get dressed.

by 12:45 i was out the door and headed to 2nd ave to catch the m15 limited. unfortunately, i waited for half an hour with three local buses passing by before i was able to board the limited bus. i got to chatham square restaurant around 1:45pm and luckily celestial had already ordered a couple dishes- turnip cakes and beef rice noodle rolls, and chrysanthemum tea. the turnip cakes were delicious- with delightfully more of the crisped friedness on the outside than usual which was suprising because it was not greasy. we also ordered shrimp dumplings, pork & waterchesnut dumplings, tripe, and spareribs. hands down the best tripe i've ever had and i was pleased with every fresh and flavorful dish.

it's clean, calmer, and a little less overwhelming than golden bridge which has been hit or miss lately. . . plus, the whole new buffet type line they have going on is just weird. not really what dim sum is supposed to be like. i think chatham square restaurant has just become a new dim sum regular.

venturing out

2008-09-12T22:59:00.000-04:00

it's been awhile since i've tried a new tapas restaurant so i was excited to go to xunta with theng on friday night. i got to the restaurant around 7:30 and grabbed a table fashioned out of a large barrel towards the center of the room. theng was having trouble getting downtown so she told me to order a couple of dishes while i waited. i ordered a glass of red wine, chicken empanada and the tortilla espanola con cebola (spanish omelette with onions).

around 8:30, theng and hosmillo arrived and at shortly after, the first two dishes were brought out. to round out the meal, we ordered a bottle of cava for the table, morzolla con cebola (blood sausage), camarons o allo (garlic shrimp), lulas anel (fried calamari), and champinos bebeidos (mushrooms in brandy).

haven't had blood sausage since going to the latin market with eddie several years back- so the blood sausage hit the spot. the chicken empanada was tasty with a flaky crust and a rectangular shape- different from what i'm accustomed to. as for the rest of the dishes, they were all good but perhaps somewhat underwhelming and unmemorable. around 9:30 the music volume skyrocketed making conversation across the table a bit more difficult. all in all, an enjoyable dinner catching up with friends and at least i won't have to keep wondering what xunta is like.

just another popularity contest

2008-09-11T22:48:00.002-04:00

sometimes i think the whole internet-social-networking thing is out of control. first there was myspace, then friendster, now facebook plus a whole slew of other online communities. i don't discredit the many values it has for helping to reconnect old friends, connect people with similar interests, share pictures, . . . plus it can be F-U-N!

sometimes, i just feel that it's easier to correspond through more direct means. don't send me a message on facebook if you have my email address, that just adds one more step to the process of me getting back to you. my biggest pet peeve though, is how people that i don't even know try to "add me as a friend" on facebook.

yes, we may have gone to the same high school so you recognize my name (hullo, how many vietnamese girls grew up in newport blues), but do we really need to be friends? . . . or are you just trying to amass as many "friends" as possible to show the internet community just how popular you are.

so call me a jerk if you wish, but if you've asked to be my friend, and we've had only a passing conversation once in our lives, please don't be sour when i ignore your request.

dunkin donuts

2008-09-10T22:05:00.002-04:00

i always have mixed feelings about my neighborhood. . .

the upside:
safe
quiet at night
nice running path along the east river
relatively close to central park
4 grocery stores nearby
bus stop just outside my apartment that gets me to work in 15 minutes
good wing place a block away
nice neighborhood video store a block away where the staff actually knows movies
good bagel place a block away
rainbow- in it's all around weirdness
good "trash"

the downside:
overpriced, subpar restaurants
mostly fratty, sports bars
babystrollers and nannies galore
overpriced grocery stores
lack of cute boutiques and shops
lack of diversity
lack of grittiness
dogs that pee all over the good "trash"

and now to add to the negative list- dunkin donuts- representing the sad but seemingly inevitable sprawl of the chain establishments to all parts of manhattan. . . don't get me wrong- i enjoy dunkin donuts and target as much as the next person . . . but i fear this will take away one of the things the UES still has going for it, the mom n pop stores & restaurants (albeit expensive and not necessarily the best, but at least independent) which help distinguish the neighborhood from the rest of the country.

mini reunion

2008-09-09T21:25:00.003-04:00

just a few weeks ago i remember confiding in the boy about how sad it was that my friends seem to be slowly migrating out of nyc. his response was how suprised i was that so many of my friends wound up in nyc.

tonight reminded me of that fact. ddt, collins, and i met up for dinner at spice on east 10th and university place. the three of us go way back to middle school and became close while working on odyssey of the mind together in 7th grade. we were all creative, nerdy, overambitious, and all slightly oustiders in our own ways. . . in that regard, it makes sense that we all ended up in nyc.

but blame it on life- busy schedules, relationship ups and downs, school, work, etc- but somehow we had all never managed to meet up. so dinner tonight was a special treat. ddt is still working at her high profile cosmetics job, collins is fullfilling his dreams doing production work, and i'm happy in my work. as we sat trading stories and catching up news/gossip regarding various high school acquaintances, i could not help but feel a true sense of happiness- that while we certainly do not lead problem free lives- at least we are living and pursuing what we love/enjoy.

the speech

2008-09-08T22:07:00.003-04:00

it only took three iterations and some honest feedback from keting2 (way too biographical, short and funny) and the boy, but i managed to crank out my maid-of-honor speech just in time. . . i was feeling quite anxious having to speak in front of a huge crowd, but perhaps because the crowd wasn't really paying attention, the delivery went fine- and i even managed to garner a few laughs from the bride. so for those who only heard snippets- here it is.

it is with great honor that i stand before you as vk's maid-of-honor. vk and i met in graduate school; perhaps because were were two of the handful of americans in the programs, it was inevitable that we became regular lunch partners. my first impression of vk was that she was shy, sweet, and possibly the slowest eater i've ever met. teeny. tiny. bites.

needless to say, we became close- bonding over how stressful graduate school was and trading stories about our kooky roommates. for instance, there was the time vk's roommate forced fed her colloidal silver when she was sick with the flu. or the time my roommate fled into my room in the middle of the night and asked to sleep in my bed because she was having night terrors. and this was within a week of moving in with her.

our roommate problem was solved when we decided to room together and found a cute apartment in tiny tokyo. vk is the best roommate i have ever had. i took out the trash. she wiped down the kitchen. i killed all the spiders. vk watched me kill the spiders, frozen in place with fear. i helped vk pick the right purse or belt to go with her outfit. and vk would help me get lost on almost every excursion.

but the best was bachelor night. thursday nights. i would wait for her to get home from work and we'd have snacks and wine. we would devise and play drinking games. every time a contestant would say "i have found the man/woman of my dreams" or "i think he is my soulmate" or "will you please accept this rose?"- we would take a sip of wine.

tonight, vk is no longer a bachelorette and jackie is no longer a bachelor. so please join me by raising your glasses and toasting vk and jackie- to celebrate vk and jackie's meeting ten years ago in an economics study group, to their journey of discovering and rediscovering that they were meant to be together, and to the marriage vows they exchanged tonight.

congratulations. i love you both and wish you a lifetime of happiness.

eating my way around los angeles

2008-09-08T21:33:00.002-04:00

fellow foodie travelers can understand my usual predicament with vacations- too much good food and too little stomach space. since i was traveling with the boy- who is resistant to the charms of the west coast, i was especially eager to have a proper sampling of the amazing food los angeles has to offer.

thursday was a long day of travel with a layover in denver where we stopped at mesa restaurant so the boy could have a smoke before the next leg. we had surpringly good queso fundido and i had an unsurprisingly regular bloody mary. we arrived in los angeles around 2pm , picked up the rental car, and after sorting out the majorly outdated GPS made our way to west LA for lunch at poquito mas. fish tacos for me and steak tacos for the boy and tostada carnitas to share. bellies full we decided to head back to keting2's apartment and rest. i worked on my maid-of-honor speech while the boy caught up on sleep.

for dinner, we met up with eulalie and keting2 at mr park's bbq which turned out to be just as good as keting2 promised- the kobe beef was tender and just slightly marbled, the pork belly dressed in an exquisite marinade, was flavorful and succulent. the seafood pajun was solid and the well seasoned side dishes perfectly complemented the meal. LA definately does korean food better than NY.

the next day we slept in and decided to hit up griddle in hollywood per my brother's recommendation. definately the heartiest breakfast i've ever seen. we shared an omelette, generous side of bacon, wheat pancakes, and french pressed coffee. ginormous. i don't know what else to say.

partially because i forgot just how bad LA traffic can be and because the cleaners almost lost the boy's shirt and pants, we were almost late to the wedding rehearsal. apparently, we weren't the only ones to get tied up in traffic as we managed to be the first to arrive at the grapevine arbor. we sorted through the logistics and set up with the staff and once the majority of the bridal party arrived, we walked through the ceremony. after two rounds, we wrapped up and headed over to mission 261 for the rehearsal dinner.

the next day was a flurry of activity and complete blur during which i managed to take the boy to in-n-out in pasadena, served as the wedding coordinator, and see one of my best friends get married. while the trip was a bit stressful at times, i wouldn't have wished to be anywhere else for i have never seen VK look so beautiful or her groom so happy.

reunions

2008-09-01T01:27:00.001-04:00

lasagna was in town this weekend- an especially nice treat since the wife and mother of two rarely has an occasion to travel alone. she was invited to a wedding in long island and figured we could have a visit while she was in new york. . . which is how i found myself awkwardly standing around at a day-before-the-wedding picnic in huntington on saturday afternoon. while there were a scattering of faintly familiar faces from college - i began to feel like an intruder amongst an intimate group of old friends and family members.

after i greeted the bride and she warmly welcomed us, i felt immediately grateful for the bride's accomodating nature and extremely appreciative for the boy's willingness to drive and accompany us to what must have been an awkward social outing. a couple hours later, we said our good-byes and headed back to manhattan.

once home, we loaded up the boy's car with bikes (two!), beef jerkey, and cold coffee before he made his way down to frederick for two fun filled days of riding. lasagna and i freshened up (i.e. comfy shoes and jeans) and headed to felice for wine and snacks. all in all, it was like the old days- sleepover where we stayed up talking until we couldn't stay awake any longer, listening to music, and lasanga playing dress up and me playing hair stylist/make up artist.

the reception hall was lovely and the bride looked gorgeous, and most importantly, happy. . . i had to cut out before the entree was served to meet lori who i haven't seen since january. we stopped by her home, had a glass of wine with her and her hubby who gave me a turkish hand-rolled cigarette to smoke, and played with her granddaughter before the girls headed out for drinks in the village. . . time flew by, some apps and a drink later and it was already time to catch my train back home. and as moody and lori stood outside waving while they waited for my train to pull away from the station, i felt very loved and fortunate for the friends i have made.

summer and smoke

2008-08-28T00:50:00.004-04:00

a few weeks ago, collins, one of my grade school friends invited me to see summer and smoke a production that he had been working on. knowng VK would be game- i forwarded the info to her, got her hooked, and eventually set a date for august 27th.

i'd never been to the cluny theatre before and the setting was perfect- small, intimate, and not a single bad seat. not having read the play or at very least synopsis beforehand, i was apprehensive about being able to fully enjoy and/or understand everything. luckily my nervousness was unfounded as i was instantly and thoroughly engaged by the story and unveiling of the characters' idiosyncracies.

from the acting and the lighting to the effects and music were superb and i found myself forgetting that the actors were actors and that the play was a play. . . a truly wonderful few hours spent.

the importance of intent

2008-08-26T21:14:00.002-04:00

last night i got take-out with mikey, one of my oldest friends, from nargila grill near my apartment. despite our best efforts to take advantage of the fact that we are finally living in the same city again, life always gets in the way and it's always months in between our hangings out. of course- that leaves much to talk about.

fortunately, lots of happy news and updates all around. as usual, after we got through the usual chitchat- life, relationships, jobs, the conversation turned more contemplative and in particular, the subject turned to the matter of intent.

in terms of how i live my life and relate to others- i always try to do and say what i mean rather than be governed by external expectations. somehow, i feel when obligation guides you, the importance or sincerity of your action is muddled or lost. similarly, i try not to impose my expectations on others. i'd rather people act in a way that is true to their own intent and when it does gel with you- then all the better.

in the past, some have questioned me for not always spelling out exactly what i want. it's not that i'm into games, rather, i believe that honesty and directness are an essential foundation for all relationships. however, i feel that there is something to be said, some invaluable lessons to be learned, by giving people the freedom to reveal themselves.

a long day's journey

2008-08-24T20:08:00.002-04:00

some weekends are over in the blink of an eye. . . but this weekend was different- i'm not sure if was all the activity or people or being outside my usual groove- but it felt incredibly long and full.

i flew out of work at 1:30 to meet up with VK at azusa for lunch. . . beef negimaki for her and sashimi for me and plenty of conversation regarding work frustrations all around. lunch was short because VK had to go back to work and i made my way back home to clean to run errands and await my parents' arrival. my parents are notorious for getting lost- in particular- on their car rides to come visit me in NYC. their ETA was 7ish but when i called around 5 and heard they were still in the maryland area- i knew it was gonna be awhile.

luckily, i had plenty of company. around 6ish, theng and hosmillo stopped by for a visit, bearing treats of buffalo flavored pringles and cookies. i broke out the wasabi peas, almonds, chips, salsa, beer and whisky and quickly passed the time gabbing and munching on all the goodies. sometime after 8pm, the boy arrived and joined our impromptu gathering. around 8:30 pm, the efforts begin to help navigate my dad through the nyc area streets. equipped with the boy's most direct and simple directions and hosmillo's guidance on the phone, my parents miraculously did NOT get lost!

after helping to unload the car, theng and hosmillo headed their separate way and the rest of us went to felice for a late dinner. delicious as usual. we shared a couple of bottles of wine and the cheese/meat platter. the boy and dad both ordered the risotto di mare, the special fish dish for my mom, and pollo disossato e ripieno for me. it was the perfect meal- hearty comfort food executed exceedingly well. we dropped my parents off at my apartment then went to larry lawrence for a drink.

saturday morning got off to a slightly skittish start. exhausted and groggy from a restless sleep, the boy and i decided to veer off the usual route via canal and ended up taking an unnecessarily long and indirect path to golden bridge for dim sum with my parents. crankiness was swept away with iced coffee and greasy, carbolicious brunch. after tucking away an impressive amount of food for four people, we went to south street to check out david byrne's exhibit "playing the building". super interesting- essentially an installation with a "piano" centered in an enormous room that was connected to all sorts of metal beams, pipes, etc that would sound with the touch of the key.

next was shopping in soho before heading back uptown to check my parents into the hotel and so that everyone could rest. nap for the boy and gym for me. big bro and his wifey arrived around 8:30 and so we all met up at hearth for dinner. i'm glad to say that this long anticipated visit did not disappoint and the food was every bit as amazing as i had remembered. pictures and reviews to follow.

the kids decided to stay out for a few drinks- decibel was the venue of choice. we ordered a bottle of otokoyama but sadly, the majority of us were too worn out to really drink much. when weariness turned into nausea, i decided i was done for the night and the boy saw me home then drove back to CT. after a solid's nights rest i felt 100X better but rather than lazying the day away as i might on my own, i was up and about again with the family. we had a nice family breakfast at the barking dog luncheonette before my parents started their drive back to VA. then big bro, nissen, blondie, and i headed downtown for some sneaker shopping. alife rivington was the highlight of the trip. then, nissen and i decided to take a break from all the trekking and headed to gama for some refreshments. bro scored a pair of sneakers and happily settled down for some blue moon and korean grub. a few more stores and we were all worn out.

by 6, everyone had left and i had my apartment to myself once again. gym, shower, dinner. a little time to blog and unwind.

i. am. beat.

time to sleep.

enjoying the best of summer

2008-08-18T19:06:00.002-04:00

the summer days are rapidly dwindling down. perhaps it's the fact that we had a late start to the warm season or the countless thunderstorms that rained out my plans, but til this past weekend i feel that i have not taken advantage of the plethora of activity (often free offerings) the city unveils during this season.

this weekend, i managed to make up for some lost time!

i found myself attending not one, but two, concerts in central park, taking in the buckminster fuller exhibit at the whitney, and enjoying a sausage from gray's papaya on the steps of the park. the concerts were fun- though it was somewhat disappointing watching sharon jones and the dapp kings from the rock pile south of summerstage. the exhibit was fascinating and i left with the distinct impression that bucky was quite revolutionary in his thinking and not unlike most crazy smart/brilliant people- he was more than just a little "off". . .

and somehow, the work week is already in full swing and i can't help but feel a little wistful- evidently the saying is true- time flies when you're having fun.

whirlwind

2008-08-14T23:51:00.002-04:00

work has been especially busy of late and i'm hoping my immune system holds up (i fear i caught my sister's cold which was caught from my niece) and looking forward to a fun and relaxing weekend.

i suppose it's partly my own fault- i decided to take friday and monday off to enjoy a four day weekend. while i put in longer hours on thursday in preparation- it hasn't seemed to help. tuesday was full steam ahead and this week has had me clocking 10-12 hour days opposed to the usual 9-10.

on wednesday, i managed to sneak in dinner at kura sushi with celestial where aided by sake for me and plum wine for her- we vented about work issues, shared stories from the past week, and made plans for the coming weeks. a much needed outlet and entirely enjoyable.

it's funny- the boy observed that i almost never mention kura sushi. to me, it holds a special place in my life in new york. the sushi is cheap and good and the service is friendly. but more than that- it has become my regular once a week or every other week spot with my girlfriends. it's my go-to neighborhood spot where i can expect to have a yummy dinner, never wait for a table, and where it's unsurprising to run into one girlfriend when i'm out with another.

to each their own

2008-08-05T21:21:00.005-04:00

by no means do i claim to be an eau natural girl- i love to dress up, wear makeup, play with different hairstyles and looks. . . and i think it's important to feel good about how you look and that comes from maintaining a healthy, balanced lifestyle with plenty of exercise, laughter, good food, and sleep.

however, i have a hard time coming to terms with an age and society where cosmetic surgery is the norm. i suppose because i believe it's absolutely fine to get wrinkles and look one's age. . . too often in the pursuit of eternal youth- people get overworked start resembling an alien race with strangely taut skin and frozen expressions.

so when i start hearing suggestions that i should consider preventative botox, i can't help but get a little riled up. sure, i suppose in moderation and with the right physician, it could be perfectly fine.

and while i would never tell someone not to do what makes them happy and impose my personal viewpoints on others (hey it's your body- do what you want), i just know that i could never make that choice for myself. i find the idea of injecting botulinum toxin into my face so that my facial muscles are unable to contract normally for 3-4 months so that i don't develop wrinkles just plain WEIRD.

broken english

2008-08-04T19:44:00.001-04:00

sunday was a beautiful day and i spent the entire afternoon and evening vegging out and watching project runway season 5 and netflix on demand on my laptop. i should feel guilty about wasting the entire day being inside- but i didn't- it felt luxurious and decadent to do exactly what i wanted and watching sappy movies of my picking.

the first movie was bella which was just barely entertaining and the second was broken english which caught my attention- perhaps because it was particularly apropos to the increasingly frequent/common conversations i've had with my female colleagues, peers, and friends. essentially, the difficulty of finding a quality person to settle down with in a city that is a virtual playground for men and women alike. in broken english, the heroine is a pretty although slightly neurotic woman in her early 30s who lives in new york and is feverently looking for a man to love her.

what i liked about the movie was that the character was so believable that i found it easy to relate to her frustrations and motivations. afterall, i think at some point in time, all young women have felt the pressure to "settle down" from their parents or relatives or felt left behind when they see their friends, siblings, and peers pairing up and getting married or felt envious over some fabulous weddings. so often, we the purpose of marriage- to share your life and develop a partnership in every aspect of the word.

the cliche's. love yourself because no one can love you until you love yourself. you won't find "it" when you are looking.

but i think it really comes down to this. the first step is being the best you that you can be. the best you does not rely on another person to complete you or make you happy. the best you, knows your own value, knows what you are looking for and will accept nothing less. and the rest will follow.

unexpected delights

2008-08-03T10:21:00.000-04:00

the festivities started friday and continued into the major part of the weekend- the reason is celestial's pre-birthday celebration as i am out of town next weekend and missing her actual party. since we both were fortunate to get out of work early friday, we met up at 5pm and headed to pata negra for an early dinner. over a delicious pitcher of sangria (well balanced and just sweet enough, that is, not very), we chatted about life, relationships, shared friends, work, and whatever else was on our mind. the chorizo and fava beans and degustation of patitas was simply perfection. the owner matteo was extremely personable and gave us excellent recommendations. pata negra has effectively been added to my roster of go-to tapas restaurants.

the rest of the night was almost a blur. we grabbed a couple after dinner drinks at b flat. the drinks were as expertly made as always and i had a nice time catching up with kenny. then more drinks upstairs at tokyo bar with some of celestial's friends. and finally a long, well needed, sobering walk to pegu club where we had calamari and escargot pancakes. unfortunately, i'd had my fill of drink and could only drink a few sips of my earl grey martini. we took off shortly after.

saturday we both slept off the boozy night and met up at 3pm to do a little window shopping and errand running. at 6pm, we met up with the nose for dinner at bon chon, home of the best fried chicken ever. we got a large order of chicken drumsticks, half garlic, soy sauce based half spicy, a seafood pancake, and a pitcher of lychee soju. the chicken was succulent and the skin was crunchy, chewy, and oh-so flavorful. . . the soju was refreshing and a perfect accompaniment to the chicken. next time i won't waste stomach room on pancakes or any sides, just the chicken. after dinner, the nose headed back to willie-b to get some things and celestial and i headed to pinkberry for dessert then to the angelika for a screening of brideshead revisited.

this weekend was a lot of fun. . . but, i'd have to say the best part of this weekend, was discovering how much celestial and i had in common. . . it is at once surprising and wonderful that without noticing, i have come to feel undeniably closer to her. we were introduced through q2 a couple years ago and ended up hanging out on more than one occasion when our meimei passed out early in the night and we kept on going. initially, i'd say q2 was our common link, in addition to a love for good food, dancing, and having fun. gradually, we began to hang out on our own and as we began to confide our aspirations, fears and share many ups and downs, i came to know celestial better. . . and what i've discovered is a kindred spirit.

so. . happy birthday celestial. you deserve happiness and all the best that life has to offer.

miss natalie

2008-07-28T22:05:00.000-04:00

the funny thing about getting older- is how life's black and whites become increasingly gray. for some time, i've had a particular stance about nannies. the idea just didn't seem right- it seemed some how irresponsible or cold to have children and opt not to be the primary caregiver.

for me, a large reason to have children would be to enjoy the process of raising and spending time with them. plus, there are so many potential downsides to the nanny business. can you really trust another person to look after your children the way you would? how do you find a good nanny? will your children be resentful or distant if they spend the majority of their week with a nanny and would this ruin their emotional development? would you regret missing so many special moments and memories that occure in ordinary, day-to-day life?

taz challenged my views in a long conversation many years ago. . . and i began to see how done properly, a nanny can be an extension of the family and facilitate rather than replace parenting. this was highlighted in my trip to visit my sister and her brood in gainesville a couple of weeks ago.

this past spring, vern had decided to hire a nanny that could watch the kids on tuesdays and thursdays while she worked part-time. it was a tough decision that was met with much resistance from my mother and self-inflicted guilt on the part of my sister. however, miss natalie, a beautiful, sweet, woman-child of a character, has been working out beautifully. . . and because of my long stay in florida, i would have the opportunity to observe miss natalie, see how she interacted with my sister and the kids, and assess the general dynamics of the situation.

i'm glad to say that it works well. miss natalie was a natural with the kids. she's an interesting, bright young woman- so eager to please and quite lost in many ways. within minutes of meeting- she was confiding everything to me from her dysfunctional family who stopped supporting her at age 17 which left her working multiple jobs to pay for her schooling, bills, housing, etc to her current romantic relationship. her rough upbringing forced her to grow up too quickly and give her a bit of an edge that is oddly contrasted by an undeniable cloud of naivete and youthful bravado. she has big dreams and i sincerely hope that she manages to overcome her current circumstances and continue to better herself. however, as miss natalie talked in circles about her various interests, her desire to have a whole "football team" of children, and the details of her drama-filled-as-only-in-high-school relationship i foresaw that this would be no easy task.

but for the time being, the kids adore miss natalie, she's fun but firm and likes to play games and music, but as soon as mommy is home- it's all about mommy. not only are my niece and nephew as attached to my sister as ever, they are well adjusted kids who are lucky to be in such a warm, loving environment.

the inconvenience of small living spaces

2008-07-27T14:44:00.000-04:00

it was love at first sight the moment i set eyes on my apartment. . . it's a small but beautiful space with amazing closets, a large (for ny) kitchen, nice hard wood floors, and to the ceiling windows. there isn't much i would change- except for more counter space and a bigger fridge.

a small (and i mean mini size) fridge means more frequent trips to the grocery store and eating fresher foods since i only have just enough space for a few days worth of food. this has proven challenging for dinner parties, finding room for leftovers, and stocking up at rare trips to stew leondards, chinatown, or trader joes. overall, i think it encourages a healthy approach to living so i don't mind.

while i have a decent amount of counterspace- i like to keep my kitchen looking as uncluttered as possible. . . for two years i only used a stovetop coffeemaker but eventually switched to a mini coffee maker as a compromise. i don't have a toaster, microwave, or toaster oven, blender, or food processor. while i manage without, some days, i feel a longing for the convenience of a toaster oven or microwave.

today is one of those days. by the time i rolled out of bed and the boy had left to head home, it was 2pm. i was starving and lunch would have to be quick and easy. tuna melt!!

i dumped a can of tuna in a bowl and mixed in some dijon. put the spread on whole wheat toast and covered it with a layer of wasabi cheese. ok, so now i need to warm up the tuna, bread, and melt the cheese. if i was at work, i would heat the tuna in a microwave and toast the bread. i don't have those options. . .so i crank up the oven to broil and pop in the sandwich for a few minutes. . yes, easy, but i feel it's such a waste of energy.

the anti-bachelorette party

2008-07-26T00:25:00.000-04:00

it was a bit tough trying to figure out what to do for VK's bachelorette party. the majority (e.g. everyone but me) of the bridesmaids are on the west coast so it would be a small party.

the generic "get wasted and embarass the bride-to-be by forcing her to wear an obnoxious tiari/veil or outfit and carry out mortifying acts to the amusement of the bridesmaids" just didn't seem right. a strip club would be just awkward and not really enjoyable for anyone. . .

the idea of riding mechanical bulls seemed promising. . . perhaps it's because superficially it would be so out of character for VK but at the same time, i would bet money that she'd be good. she's stubborn as hell and don't let her slight frame fool you, she's got crazy upper body strength! but this activity also warranted a bigger crowd.

in the end, i opted for dinner at cube63 and a burlesque show at the slipper room. with the afternoon off, i was the first to head to the LES. i stopped by september on stanton and ludlow to pick up some wine for dinner and was pleasantly surprised by their extensive selection of bourbons/whiskey which included some small distillery stuffs. after getting a couple of recommendations from one of the staff, i was on my way a bottle of sweeter white wine that would please theng and VK and a dry sparkling wine for myself.

cube63 is what you imagine a japanese restaurant in the LES to be: gray walls with minimal decor (ikea-esque?), pumping music, and good- perhaps average- sushi (with small portion sizes). . . sigh, this is what comes from straying from the tried and true. . . nevertheless, we enjoyed the byob-ness of the place although we were unable to finish our wine and giving it to the table of southerners next to us. all in all, a fun spot and no serious regrets.

after a stroll through babeland- afterall, this was a bachelorette party- VK and i headed to the slipper room. unfortunately, my research proved me wrong and the show started at 9:30 rather than the 8:45 that i had previously thought. we chatted away the time and secured a table close to the stage. the 20's style band was great and got us into the vibe. the first act- superb. the performer had a great presence, sultry voice perfectly suited for a breathy, bluesy number, and voluptuous as you would expect. i was sold. but then the second act consisted of a poetry reading by a man dressed in greek/roman influenced garb. unfortunately, i don't remember a word he was saying because the whole thing really focuses on a plastic bag strapped to the man's pelvic area which is filled with wine being quickly emptied by two staged volunteers sucking on straws connected to said bag. i guess effective. it was downhill from there. . . after a completely unimaginative act by a young blond woman with a nice figure but no real pizazz, there was a very. long. break.

we waited. we waited. we waited some more. . then we decided to leave.

altogether, a fun night (hopefully for VK) where we got to try new things without embarassing anyone. the mechanical bull will have to wait for LA. . .

the conclave

2008-07-23T22:01:00.000-04:00

this week has been busier than most. twice a year- the company flies in all of our department managers to nyc for 4 days of meetings that include strategy sessions, vendor presentations, internal discussions, etc. like a wedding- it feels like months of preparation slip away into just moments of time. . . although this week has felt far lengthier.

while i consider myself an early riser- being at work before 8AM has been a stretch even for me. so my week has consisted of rushing between the office and the hotel where the majority of meetings are held to catch whichever meeting, trying to get my normal workload done as well as catch up with last week's work since i was on vacation, and meet & greet key people. days end late with company dinners stretching into the evening.

of course- my high maintenance self has been struggling to retain some semblance of a routine but gym outings have been intermitten and sleep too scarce. but, it's almost over and i'm looking forward to easing into a laid back and restful weekend.

the problem with posting

2008-07-19T12:04:00.000-04:00

i've been inconsistent of late. i start a post and never finish it. or the urge to blog passes and then days go by and i forget whatever incident spurred my desire to blog.

the boy suggested i use twitter- it's easy and doesn't involve the time committment and energy that writing a full post. best of all, it allows me to do what my initial intent of starting a blog was, to keep my friends who are scattered far and wide, up to date on my life.

so let's see how it goes. . . i have a good feeling.

Just a taste of Miami

2008-07-13T21:24:00.000-04:00

“you are so white!!!” exclaimed vern (my big sis) as she greeted me at the baggage claim in Miami with Stretch, her husband, and kids, T and Wes, in tow.

V: yea, I hope to work on that this weekend!

Unfortunately, weather did not cooperate. After finding our hotel, Island Souse located on Collins near 14th st, we suited up and headed to the beach which was conveniently located just a couple blocks away. I laid out my towel and got situated and the kids raced to the water, vern trailing behind. Just as I started to get comfortable, I started to feel a sprinkling of rain.

V: uh oh. This is just my luck. . this doesn’t look too good.

Families and couples nearby started packing up.

Stretch: yea, looks like it may rain. Maybe they know something we don’t know?

V: well, let’s see if it passes.

For the next couple hours, the kids played in the water and sand, I chatted with Stretch, and waited out the weather. Though the clouds looked gloomy, the weather held out enough for us to have a nice little afternoon at the beach. Around 5 we decided to pack up and head back to the hotel so Wes could nap before dinner.

For dinner, we opted for Cuban and headed to Versailles based on my experience at an offshoot in LA and reviews attesting to its authenticity and warning of poor service. It was a huge restaurant with a cafeteria style meets garish décor but all I cared about was the food. We ordered calamari, a sampler of deep fried treats, ropa vieja, Versailles chicken, and a Cuban sandwich. What we got was comfort food at its near best- satisfying and filling! Despite being ready to burst, we indulged in flan and tres con leches. Deliciously decadent and worth the discomfort of an overly full belly.

I never slept so well! Unfortunately, our second day at the beach was not to be. The thunderstorms that started in the early hours continued on and off throughout the day. So instead, we decided to leave Miami early and head to Orlando, check out the Millenium Mall, and get dinner at Pho Hoa. While I was a little disappointed that our time in Miami was cut short, a real Vietnamese dinner all about made up for it!

farewells, impressions, and kielbasa

2008-07-10T22:55:00.000-04:00

feeling 49% overwhelmed with work and 49% in need of a night in and relaxing, the chances that i'd make it to nel's going away party in brooklyn were pretty slim. however, i had already made plans with a couple of work friends, the nose and miss honey, to join the festivities and attend an art gallery opening earlier in the week.

by 4pm i was feeling pretty good with my progress for the day and the nose's email reminder about the evening settled the matter. afterall, work would still be there tomorrow and i would regret not saying good bye to nels and k before they left for iowa. so the three of us headed out to willie-b to radegst biergarden.

we easily found the group- mostly anthropology people - who was settled in at a large wooden table. we ordered a round of drinks and pate before testing out the kielbasa and bratwurst. the food was excellent (though the kielbasa was far better than the bratwurst), affordable, hearty, and perfectl complemented drinking. except for the surly barmaid, i think radegst is worth another visit and a fun place to hang out.

the crowd was a mix of familiar but long forgotten faces and mingling involved awkward and half hearted attempts at conversation. i suppose that's not unsurprising, i was never that friendly with any of them except for george. consequently, i found myself spending the majority of the night chatting with the nose and miss honey and at times feeling like the observer/referree. having had a couple of glasses of wine, the nose was loosening up and sharing his impressions of miss honey, our work place, etc.

the nose: you are so contrary to our company and don't fit in the mix. you are very refined. i can see you owning a boutique or working for a lingerie company.

miss honey: (with a look of alarm) what do you mean? i'm too refined? what about her (pointing to me)?

the nose: she will do great. she's got an edge to her. you are really refined. i don't see you wheeling and dealing. you have to be able to be tough and scary.

miss honey: i can be tough. plus, my boss says that is something that is developed with age and confidence.

v: (i watch as it all starts to unravel and miss honey taking it too much to heart, i subtly gain the nose's attention) hey man, be careful with what you say.

the nose: sorry, i've had too much to drink. my words are getting away with me. it's not that you aren't smart or able. i just imagine you marrying some rick european man and living in a chatelet and running a household. you'll be fully capable of managing a staff and firing people. chuckling.

miss honey: that doesn't sound too bad. . but it's not the 21st century.

the conversation eventually veers away, but i can see that miss honey has been unsettled and her confidence ruffled. i remembered a time not too long ago when i was easily swayed and unsure of myself. and so on the trainride back to the city i tried to point out what i believe was the nose's real message- that to succeed you have to find an environment that you can thrive in. if you are a more passive, naive, and laid back person, you will be unlikely to succeed in a more aggressive, corporate environment. if you are more calculating and focused only on individual advancement, you might not do as well in a small company that relies heavily on collaboration and teamwork. better to find an environment that suits your personality, because the happier you are at work, the better your work will actually be, and hence the more successful you will ultimately be.

unfortunately, i could see that my argument did little to encourage miss honey. . . so funny how that is, that you can hear 100 good things about yourself and forget them in a second, but one negative comment will nag you forever.

running on empty

2008-07-09T23:46:00.000-04:00

the past week and a half have seen a flurry of activity that has left me a bit drained.

on friday, the boy and i headed out to philly to celebrate my bro's birthday. we had a relaxing 4th of july, take out wings and pizza and a few dvd's. saturday involved an eye exam, cheesesteak excursion, trip to a chinatown grocery store, and bbq/bday party prep. there was plenty of good eats, drinks, and music (btw, kudos to the boy for egging me on to experience beer pong for the first time in my life)!

we woke up around 11 sunday morning and lazed around a bit. big bro made us a yummy breakfast of sausage, bacon, eggs, and toast before giving us a lift to the chinatown bus. we made our way back to nyc, stopping to get boba tea before heading back uptown to nap. for dinner, the boy and i met up with taz for 3 recession meals at gray's papaya (two hot dogs with toppings and a drink for less than $4 each). the 100% beef hot dogs were quite good and the snap from the casing gave way to the juicy center. the drink was good but a bit too sweet and smoothy like for my tastes.

after polishing off dinner, we headed to park slope for drinks and bocce. whether the hotdogs were not filling enough or we managed to work up an appetite, the next stop was schillers in the LES for a late night snack. the nachos were delicious as usual.

always the busiest day of the work week, this monday's dreadfulness was compounded by the extra reports and analysis necessitated by the end of the fiscal month and insufficient sleep. i managed to hold out until 6pm and headed downtown to meet taz, his new lady friend S, and VK for dinner at mercadito grill. to my delight, the fish tacos were excellent and better than the previous visit. i tried to stay focused during dinner, but ended up excusing myself around 9pm to head home for a quick workout and good night's rest.

tuesday was feeling back to my normal. the work week has been flying by as i'm trying to cram a week and a half of work into one in preparation for my upcoming trip to florida. had a nice dinner with taz at totoya where we deconstructed my behavioral patterns and various other topics. after dinner, we enjoyed ice cream from sedutto near my apartment.

a sudden change of plans with jpan and xiaopang have resulted in the cancellation of friday's dinner party which left me unexpectedly free tonight and tomorrow night. celestial and i decided to meet up for dinner at kura sushi where we were joined by Q2. the night ended later than expected and i find myself feeling weary from all the week's activity. . . . i think i need a vacation before my vacation!

the rage within

2008-06-26T19:42:00.000-04:00

i hate the fact that when i get angry- my physical reaction is to cry. the angrier i get the more tears well up in my eyes. i can't help it and i find it utterly frustrating because the last thing i want to do is give off the impression that someone has hurt my feelings or that i'm weak. so then i get angry (now at myself) which only exacerbates the situation. and the fact that this is a common trait shared among my female friends, colleagues, etc provides me little comfort.

for the first time in a long time, someone pissed me off enough to make me (almost) cry. i calmed myself down before any tears were actually shed. the annoying thing is i have to turn around and deal with this a-hole tomorrow and will have to figure out a way to maintain some type of working relationship with the guy.

thinking about it, even hours later, still makes my blood boil. so let me put it out of my mind for the time being. but if anyone has a solution for dealing with the whole tears of rage thing- i'm all ears.

felice

2008-06-20T22:14:00.000-04:00

one of my biggest complaints about the UES is the lack of good, affordable restaurants and cool bars. instead, there is a plethora of restaurants that serve mediocre, overpriced fare, fratty sportsbars, and twilight zoney diners (disclaimer: there are a handful of amazing restaurants on the UES if you are willing to pay a pretty penny such as sushi of gari). for the most part, i've written off the UES and head downtown or to brooklyn for dinners or drinks out. . . .until felice.

felice is a small, italian wine bar on 1st ave and 64th. the ambience is cozy, almost rustic, with an air of refinement. there are a handful of tables outside (love outdoor seating), a nice inviting white bar in the back, a communal table in the center of the room, and smaller tables along the perimeter. the menu is exactly what i like to see at a restaurant- short and sweet. to me this indicates a focus on doing a few things well rather than a lot of things just so-so. on the list was a selection of crostone, an assortment of meat and cheese platters, a handful of salads, pastas, and entrees.

we order two glasses of prosecco to whet the appetite and start the evening of festivities. i order a prosciutto and olive spread crostone and the cheese and meat platter to start until the rest of the group arrives. the prosecco is refreshing with a hint of sweetness and a nice contrast to the salty flavors of the appetizers. the crostone comes out with three pieces and topped with mounds of prosciutto. delicious and i feel captures the essense of italian cooking- uncomplicated, fresh, and comforting. the selection of cheeses and meats were excellent.

two more of our group arrived. fitz ordered a bottle of red wine so i don't recall the label (too much wine that night)- what i do remember is that it was a great red, dry, medium body and very food-friendly.

we ordered more crostone- this time with eggplant, zucchini, and a soft cheese. also delectable.

the last three of our group arrived. another bottle of wine. someone orders a ravioli in a pesto sauce in addition to more crostone. another two bottles of wine.

somehow, three hours passed by and i had a lovely time. the best part, was being able to walk home from the restaurant. . . and felice may very well become my new regular.

unroutine check up

2008-06-19T23:35:00.000-04:00

it's been YEARS since i've had a regular physical and for the most part i've done fine without it. however, during a recent bout of coughing that persisted for weeks, i decided it was important to have a primary care physician that i could go to for whatever odd ailments arose.

my appointment day finally came- i was scheduled for 3PM. the office was a shared doctors/optometrist office. the reception room was cramped and a bit dingy. i checked in and after filling out all my paperwork the reception explained that there were two patients ahead of me. i mentally prepared to wait. afterall, it would be abnormal to go to a medical appointment and not have to wait, right?

3:15
3:30
3:45

the medical assistant asked to see my insurance card and asked me to pay for the co-pay. she looked at me apologetically and assured me that the doctor would be ready for me in 15 minutes.

4:00
4:15

my temper began to flare up as i heard the doctor chit chatting with the staff. after she i asked the medical assistant how much longer the wait would be as i had to get back to work. just 15 minutes, she said. sensing my frustration, the assistant took me to the room adjacent to my doctor's office which turned out to be the optometrist's office. she checked my temperature, heart rate, blood presure, and blood oxygen level. next i was lead into the real doctor's office where i was hooked up-all matrix like- to a blood flow tester.

4:30.

finaly, the doctor comes into the room with a chinese man. i pull my shift closed tighter and look around awkwardly. she talks with the chinese man for awhile about checks and bills and he finally leaves the room. i can't help but feel anxious and i mentally picture the piles of emails that are building up at work. she is a very petite woman in her 50's/60's with short, dark brown hair and wearing a full chinese ensemble. she makes conversation- asks me about my family, tells me how she was an activist during the vietnam war, talks about her daughter, etc. all i really want her to do is get to business.

4:45

my phone rings

em: are you ok?

v: oh, hey sorry. i just got into see my doctor. sorry i'm gonna be here for a bit longer.

em: you should just go home afterwards.

v: no no, i have too much work to do. i'll see you in a bit.

i hang up.

dr: oh, i'm sorry we're running so late today. usually we are more organized, but we are in the process of moving, etc. next time just call ahead and see where we are with the appointments.

v: oh ok. urm, isn't that what an appointment is for?

the doctor proceeds to check my heart, pulse, etc. she notes that my heart rate pattern is abnormal and asks me if i ever get heart palpitations or murmurs. finally, she suggests that i take an echocardiogram. she calls the chinese man, who turns out to be a visiting doctor from china, into the room. she explains that he'll be performing the echocardiogram. then she leaves the room.

wtf??? i thought there always had to be another female in the room for medical exams. the whole POINT of choosing a female doctor is so i don't have to deal with male physicians. ugh. i am told to lay down on my side as he uses this probe covered with gel to look at my heart. the procedure takes about 10 minutes but feels like much longer. and i'm not a happy camper.

the appointment is wrapped up. my doctor asks me to go get a series of other tests done in a nearby lab and follow up in a couple weeks. i ask dr li if my heart seems ok. he says it is probably "ok" but my dr will have the final word. so all in all, instead of feeling better, i leave my appointment with 2 more appointments to make and the sensation that something might be wrong with me. this is why i don't go to the doctor.

technologicaly challenged

2008-06-18T19:58:00.001-04:00

while i'm sure i'm quite capable of figuring out computer/technology related things- i find it utterly uninteresting. consequently, i've gotten into a habit of relying on my tech-savvy friends to handle whatever ruts i get into.

needless to say, it is unsurprising that the boy was the one to notice that my blog is looking a bit f-ed up. . . the profile is skewed upwards and cut off.

it's about time to get a new "look" anyways- however, with the limited options provided by blogger and my inherent laziness with figuring out how to edit html myself- it will certainly be a challenge.

but stay posted. change is on it's way.

doing the right thing

2008-06-12T00:01:00.000-04:00

i was sitting at my cubicle when em came up to me. "don't do anything!"

i looked at her blankly.

"i don't want you to do anything!" my boss proclaimed convincingly.

what she referred to was my division's tradition of celebrating every associate's birthday. basically, there is some pretense of a surprise where everyone goes to the conference room and the birthday boy/girl has to go to the room and pretends to be surprised by the celebration which inevitably involves dessert- whether it be cupcakes from buttercup bakery or carvel icecream cake.

so i find myself in the odd position of trying to decipher my boss's true meaning. . .should i follow her literal direction and insist there be no celebration? would this make her TRULY happy or would the lack of festivities unexpectedly make her sad? or do i go with tradition knowing that it makes her unhappy?

this is my predicament.

we've decided to forego the usual festivities in lieu of a nice bouquet of flowers and a card. . .and just in case, i'm going to bake some birthday cookies.