“Every mighty
king was once a crying baby!
Every great tree
was once a tiny seed!
Every tall
building was once in paper!
And so I dream
my dream!” she yelled.
Eunice Akoth
March didn’t go out as a lamb. But thankfully, with the longer days, April
did, slowly, turn into a lovely start to spring. It’s amazing how you could literally see it
in people’s faces. Coming out again
after a too-long winter’s hibernation.
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| At Simon Pearce |
I was so fortunate, and grateful, to kick off spring in
Vermont. Albeit, not the Green Mountain
State’s most beautiful season, it was wonderful to relax, and “be” with one of
my favorite people. Katie, came back
from Sierra Leone for rest/work for a few weeks, and we escaped up to one of
our favorite places. Funny, I hadn’t
been to Woodstock for three years, and found myself there twice in a
month. No complaints! We literally “vege’d out” catching up on a
whole season of “Downton Abbey” to emerge only for dinner (since we had no food
left!). It was a lovely dinner at Melaza
Bistra (http://www.melazabistro.com).
Loving our long lazy lunch at Long Trail Ale,
and really cherishing another lunch at one of my favorites, anywhere in the
world, Simon Pearce, we both realized
that as much as we love Woodstock, Vermont, we couldn’t live there. Guess we are more citified than we thought.
Coming back to my new home town, I jumped in as usual with
both feet. The Central Park Conservancy
treated volunteers to a very lovely reception at “my” Boathouse. It was a special evening with classmates of
my training class who have become friends (amongst many others).
 |
| Lunch time entertainment |
Once again getting lost on the internet, reading one thing, leading
to another, I found out about a small travel show, called New York TravFest.
Speakers and groups I had heard before where speaking, so I was very interested.
Jumping in on the 11th
hour, I did what I often do when I see events I want to attend; but not
necessary pay for (need to be prudent!); I offered my assistance by
volunteering. A lady reached out, and I
worked quite hard the week before the festival.
It was excellent at yet more cool
spaces in my city. I got to go/work at
an event at the New York Times building in Midtown, extremely interesting and
lovely. The opening night party was at
the very cool Mundo Restaurant in the Paper
Factory Hotel in Brooklyn. Saturday
I spent at on the West side at 150 W 83. And,
finally, Sunday I spent the day in the Penthouse Suite with Meet Plan Go at the Hosteling
International on the Upper West Side.
I will stay in hostels in a heartbeat if they are like this one. (And this adventure may just turn into
another of those part-time gigs I’m hoping to fill my time with!)
Within a few days of that great Festival, I found myself
behind the scenes at the David Koch Theatre at Lincoln Center. (The same theatre where I saw the lovely Sarah dance with the Boston
Ballet last spring.) The Women in the Worlds
Summit was a mouth-dropping, inspiring few days of listening to some of the
most amazing women in this country speak (“Hilary”, Barbara Streisand, Katie
Couric, Angelina Jolie, Ashley Judd, Robin Wright with the real US Ambassador
to the UN. I missed Mary Robinson
(former President of Ireland), Meryl Streep, Helen Mirren, Diane von Furstenberg. 
More spectacular were some of the non-famous women who came
to speak. A young Lady who left no dry
eye in the theatre and earned one of the longest standing ovations I have ever
experienced after performing a poem she wrote; Eunice
Akoth is a 12 year old sixth grade student at Kiberia School for Girls. She came to the US with Kennedy and Jessica
Odede. From the program: “Kennedy is one
of Africa’s best-known community organizers and social entrepreneurs…He started
the Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO)
movement…” One of the many things
Kennedy has done is open a school for girls in his hometown, Kiberia, a
district of Nairobi, Kenya, the largest urban slum in Africa. Again from the program about: “Born in the
slums of Nairobi…her parents were unable to pay school fees, but at the age of
6, Eunice was accepted into the first class of students at KSG and quickly
established herself as a leader. Today,
she is a confident girl who, despite her circumstances, believes she is made
for greatness. She dreams of becoming a
famous and influential journalist so she can travel the word and report on the
circumstances of girls. She is also
determined to come back to Kiberia so she can help her community. She believes it is her duty to change the
world.” Watch for her.
 |
| Sugar and Plumm |
Of course, amongst all of these networking/volunteer
adventures, I played and kept up with friends. Some of these new friends have come directly
from amazing exploits in my volunteer world.
Alas, I have lost one such great Lady to Portland, Oregon. But, of course, I wholeheartedly support
Ladies who go for their dreams. Before
she left we had a Saturday night on the Town, literally. Meeting down in the Lower East Side, we found
a wonderful sushi place with an incredible happy hour and loved our time at Zest.
Popping to the UWS for dessert we delighted in a decadent Milkshake for
grownups at Sugar and Plumm. Farewell, Dear Friend. We will meet again. (I have never been to Portland, Oregon!)
my new city. |
| Playing in my Park (Central) with Family! |
 |
| On the Highline |
 |
| The Standard West's Patio |
The next day, a very Dear Friend and Husband came to play on
the way to New Jersey. We hit the ground running, after showing them my new home, and making
our way Downtown near the new World Trade Center to find their hotel. Starting at O’Hara’s
close to their hotel, we had a perfect pub lunch. We then meandered along the Highline, stopping for fun Margarita’s at
the Standard West’s Patio. Lovely. Wanting another bite to eat before seeing a
play, we stayed in the Meatpacking ‘hood and went over to Catch for some “munchies.” If that weren’t enough, we did go to a show,
a series of short plays about Central Park (a benefit of being a Greeter Guide,
we were invited as guests). It was okay.
My work continues with Initiate Care. I am getting more comfortable and really
enjoy the teaching. My “whipper-snapper”
Boss treated us to a lovely Team dinner at a wonderful restaurant, Decoy.
Thanks, yet again, BM. (He has
managed to get some of the best restaurants/hotels in the city as clients. Which I love!) Another day we taught at Zuma,((http://www.zumarestaurant.com/zuma-landing/new-york/en/welcome) where upon we
were treated to a Chef’s tasting lunch following. What a true treat! Spring is the crunch season for camps needing
their counselors to get CPR certified, so that should (and did) help keep me
busy!
The final Sunday of month had me sharing in a lovley brunch
with 4th U Vday Ladies, and a dear Philosophy friend, at City Winery. Following that we meandered further into the
Village (still happy saying that) to Café Vivaldi to listen to Emir Gamsizoglu again. He performed an amazing afternoon concert
with Angela Dinkelman,
soprano. “Breakfast in Tiffany’s” was a
true multi-collaboration of Schubertiades music interspersed with scenes of
that beloved classic movie. There was
not a dry eye in the house as Angela ended the show with Henry Mancini’s “Moon River.”
April ended on a beautiful note as I took full advantage of
a Greeter Eric and Gerry of the Horticulture team
guided us through an area that I manage to get lost in most other visits. It is so hard to imagine you are in the heart
of the largest cities in the world here.
So very, very blessed and grateful.
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