Exhilarating Explorations

                      "If light is in your heart, you will find your way."  Rumi

Why is so much of life a “feast or famine” thing?  So many great choices, so little time (and money!).  But, if that remains my greatest problem in life, I’m lucky.  However, that’s not the case, really.  It’s how I choose to roll with the punches on this roller coaster ride of life that counts, isn't it?!

"My" Sojourn

On that note, I spent a wonderful evening with some Sojourn Friends at a 50^th Birthday party.  How wonderful is that?  Less than a year in my new hometown, I get invited to celebrate very special occasions with new friends. Dinner at Yofsi Estiatorio (www.yefsiestiatorio.com) a Greek-Mediterranean in our ‘hood was another night of seemingly endless feasting.  (And, surprisingly, my clothes are all getting loose. My walks around the Reservoir, and simply walking NYC, as well as more regular yoga classes are paying off, thank God.)  Of course, we ended the night at our Sojourn for music.

From The Shanty's website

A simple Tuesday night is when I had a tough choice: Food Film Festival Season kickoff at The Shanty at the NY Distilling Company in Williamsburg Brooklyn, one of the FFF’s major sponsors and/or meeting up with Communication and Special Events Director for VDay (my “Boss’ in February when I was volunteer coordinator) who now lives in L.A.  Her gathering was at The Counting Room in Brooklyn.  Brooklyn is huge; but luckily both places were within walking distance, so I was able to get to both!

Company @ my Kiosk

Twilight over Conservatory Water in Central Park

Still enjoying my time in “my” Kiosk in Central Park really helps fulfill the frustrated tour guide in me.  It’s quieter now.  Summer rush is over.  Most guests now seem to be European which makes me want to learn other languages.  Can my “old” mind do it?!  Perhaps, we’ll see.

Early Autumn in the Catskills

Never too old for 'smores!

Is there anything better than the comfort of “Girl Friends”, the sharing, the laughing, the wine, the food, the dancing (oh, "Paradise by the Dashboard Light"..always brings happiness!)?  I don’t think so.  On a gorgeous early Autumn weekend, I was invited to go with new Girlfriends, many of whom have become true friends through my Sojourn, others whom became friends at a gorgeous home up in the town of Wyndham. My first visit to the Catskills was wonderful.  Leaves were beginning to change, a gorgeous walk through meadows and fields, long luxurious soak in the hot-tub drinking Prosecco, smores by the fire at night lent to a truly wonderful weekend.  I am truly blessed and grateful.

Coming home mid-afternoon on Sunday, the International Day of Peace, I missed the People’s Climate March to coincide with the huge summit at the U.N.  But, on a beautiful Sunday afternoon in NYC there’s a plethora of things to choose from.  I went down to Times Square for the Broadway Flea Market benefiting Broadway Cares.  Loads of “stuff” from many shows that would be very exciting for true fans.  One thing that I have learned after “downsizing” (that’s an understatement) is that I no longer need, nor have room for, “stuff”.  It was fun to poke around and “be”.  I was impressed and delighted to see Tyne Daly graciously greeting people and chatting with any who stopped.

Shinnyo Lantern Floating for Peace at Lincoln Center

I then meandered my way up to Lincoln Center where I had read about the Shinnyo Lantern Floating for Peace Ceremony at the Paul Milstein Reflecting Pool and Terrance in Hearst Plaza.  Oh my, it was yet another one of those NYC experiences that truly made me know I am right where I am supposed to be, at least for now.  It was a moving, beautiful experience with Alphonso Horne, 26-year-old trumpet virtuoso, handpicked by Wynton Marsalis to be one of his Jazz at Lincoln Center All-Stars
New, York City Ballet’s principal dancer Wendy Whelan and fellow dancer Craig Hall performing choreographer Christopher Wheeldon’s “After the Rain”, students of The Juilliard School, The Brooklyn Youth Chorus, ending with two young vocalists from Broadway singing Alicia Keyes’ “New York.”  And, from its website: “At sunset, Her Holiness Shinso Ito, the head priest of Shinnyo-en and one of the highest-ranking woman Buddhist leaders in the world, presided over a special closing Lantern Floating ceremony, as hundreds of the LED candle-lighted paper lanterns were set afloat on the Milstein Pool, illuminating Hearst Plaza into one of the most captivating experiences in the city.”  Another magical evening.

From the GELL website

Having a volunteer orientation for OHNY (Open House New York) in the West Village on a Tuesday night made me get up to the Highline for something I’ve been wanting to check out for quite awhile.  From its website: Open House New York (OHNY) is a 501(c)3 organization that promotes a greater appreciation of the city’s built environment; broadens public awareness by exposing diverse audiences to distinctive examples of architecture, engineering and design; educates and inspires discussion of issues of excellence in design, planning and preservation; and showcases outstanding new work as well as structures of historic merit.  The orientation was held at PS41 which itself is very interesting for it’s rooftop garden.  From the school’s website: “As a first-of-its-kind NYC Greenroof Environmental Literacy Laboratory, GELL provides PS41 students empirical lessons designed to enhance science, math and aesthetic education in an outdoor observational learning space.”  I do believe I will go tour it during the OHNY weekend.

Following the interesting and quick orientation, where I literally sat behind a Rooftop Films Friend (I love when stuff like that happens to me as it makes me feel like a real New Yorkah, although Kristi tells me that’ll never happen with my Boston accent.)  I wandered over to the Highline to stargaze.  Members of the Amateur Astronomers Association of New York set up their telescopes for any and all to view from, for free.  It was wonderful as I got to see a gorgeous view of Saturn (red with its rings), Mars, the double star Alberio, and triple stars: the brightest stars of the Big Dipper: Alcor and Mizar.  In researching for this post, I have just discovered that this wonderful group sets up all over NYC.  I will be checking out more interesting things with them.  See, never a dull moment!

Teaching in a gorgeous Gothic building in Brooklyn

Having a true NYC hair experience (5+ hours in the chair!), and all of my jobs are also keeping me busy, and fulfilled.  After my hair odyssey, it was a shame to go home and “waste” the ‘do, so I met Sojourn friends at the owners’ newest restaurant, Selena Rosa also in the ‘hood.  (Sammy’s becoming a tycoon of UES restaurants!).  Teaching more, organizing, etc for the Food Film Festival fill up my days and evenings.  Never, in a million years, did I think all those years doing the All Night Graduation Party for Milton High School would actually prepare me for new career opportunities.  Life is certainly “interesting.”

 

Launch into Festival Season

“One of the things I learned the hard way was that it doesn’t pay to get discouraged.  Keeping busy and making optimism a way of life can restore your faith in yourself.”

                                                                                                                          Lucille Ball

Fall is gearing up to be fast, furious, and incredibly busy.  I now realize that “being busy” is what I do best.  As that famous Lady, Mom, has always said, “A busy person is a happy person,” which actually does bode true for me, most of the time..

Bernie teaching Geology

Iconic Views Tour

Keeping very busy with my new career/job, spending a lot of time in my Central Park (the kiosks), and always learning is good for me. Taking two different tours in the Park this weekend; one on geology where we learned about the last Ice age;  the Laurentian Ice Sheet’s (Glacier) move down North America; and seeing the striations it formed in the Park’s native Manhattan schist (the prevalent rock that Manhattan is built on) with familiar faces at both tours was a boon to my mind and soul.  The second tour was the Iconic Views of Central Park, which simply continued to reinforce my love of it! 

With my “small” world/six degrees of separation life, I will be working for a dear Friend’s niece at the Food Network’s Wine and Food Festival in mid-October.  That is the festival that kicked off my NYC life last year, and truly launched me into my life as a “Festie” (think “carnie”-carnival worker- but mine involves food, wine, or the arts of some sort; sometimes combining all of the above).  I’ll be spending the weekend on the Rooftop on Pier 92 on the Hudson River (another new constant in my NYC life, Rooftops, which I also love) as the volunteer coordinator (yet another new constant) for the Parties on the Roof: Ronzoni's La Sagra Slices hosted by Bongiovi (as in Jon’s family!); Brand Pasta Sauces & Adam Richman presented by Time Out New York;  Blue Moon Burger Bash presented by Pat LaFrieda Meats hosted by Rachael Ray; CASAMIGOS Tequila presents Tacos & Tequila: A Late Night Fiesta hosted by Bobby Flay; and finally  Meatopia X: The Carnivore’s Ball hosted by Michael Symon.

My diligence, passion, and work ethic is reaping in more rewards for me as I am on the team for the NYC Food Festival at the end of October this year as the Volunteer and Production Coordinator.  Already been hitting the road running for it exploring and getting tours of hotels, etc.

Gorgeous sky above Belvedere Castle

"Pink Floyd" Tribute Band

Using my Theater Extras, a dear Sojourn friend and I traveled “back to high school and college” by going to B.B. King’s to see a Pink Floyd tribute band.  Great fun.  And the food was pretty good as well!  My Library friend won tickets in the virtual lottery for the Public’s Delacorte Theatre in my Central Park for a wonderful presentation of the Fall for Dance Festival featuring New York City Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, and Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company!   Preceding it we had a delightful and relaxing picnic by Turtle Pond, under Belvedere Castle.  Meeting a friend in the East Village led to a late night with more music at Anyway Café , a small Russian café, on E 2^nd Street.  More perfect NYC evenings.

Delacorte Theatre

Mitch with our10 lb lobster prepared 2 ways for us by Chef Ben!

An amazing long, leisurely dinner hosted by my Boss at Oceana in Midtown allowed me to meet and get to know Family members, co-workers and more associated with Initiate Care and rounded out a great week.  Executive Chef Ben Pollinger prepared an almost limitless supply of fresh seafood prepared in a myriad of ways.  Another thing learned:  I was always under impression that large lobsters were tough and not very tasty.  Untrue. Our 10 lb. Baby was tender and delicious, prepared two ways!  Executive Pastry Chef Colleen Grapes (a friend from the Food Film Festival) absolutely spoiled us with an amazing array of her desserts.  It was one of the most perfect evenings I've had in a long time.
 This wonderful early autumn (technically still summer) week finally ended on another high note with my Philosophy Friend at another street fair for the 92 Street Y, and lupper (late lunch/early dinner) at a great Argentinian restaurant, Liberatador, close by on 2^nd Avenue.  Life is good.