Bryant Park...'witchcraft lunch, sitting and relaxing...

Go to Bryant Park! What a lovely setting...privately owned and well maintained. 'witchcraft kiosks and, of course, the Bryant Park Grill. I've not eaten there...but will. My daughter and I went to jewelry caster, Roni Casting and to a place that casts only in pewter, Quest Beads...in between stops we ate food from 'witchcraft, in the park. A perfectly lovely day...xoxoxo

Annie's Feet in the park... Follow those feet!!!

Annie's photo #2. Great photo!

A RATING SYSTEM

xo=eh

xoxo=ok, just...ok

xoxoxo=really ok

xoxoxoxo=yes+I'd go back

xoxoJaneoxox

Breakfast today. I walked to the westside to go to Roni Casting with some of my charm models and, as usual, got very very hungry. I walked on to M&J Trim for some ribbon and a lovely salesman sent me to Jimmy's American at 990 6th Avenue. The Yelp reviews are frightening. Most reviewers went for dinner. NOT a dinner place. I had a lovely omelet and...the waitress was spectacular. She could not have been more attentive and lovely...

Need an eye opener? Not a problem...

Their lovely sign...small, yet oval....

My yummy omelet...feta and spinach...I eat this a lot for breakfast...feta...I think of Greece...we did have fun!

And then one has to pay...not too bad.

A RATING SYSTEM

xo=eh

xoxo=ok, just...ok

xoxoxo=really ok

xoxoxoxo=yes+I'd go back

xoxoJaneoxox

Vintner Wine Market, Hell's Kitchen. A very little place with good food and wine and beer...

I ate here yesterday and quite a few times before...I really really like this little place. Service can be a bit slow so don't be in a rush...Hell's Kitchen, again....

Vintner Wine Market... 

A small place...charming.

A RATING SYSTEM

xo=eh

xoxo=ok, just...ok

xoxoxo=really ok

xoxoxoxo=yes+I'd go back

(I've eaten sliced meat and cheese platters..and a really yummy sandwich)

xoxoJaneoxox

Yesterday...today. More from the westside....

Walking down 9th (?) Avenue and saw this gal in the window of a restaurant. !Wow!!!!

Great character...I guess this is the Mercury Bar...
Or is it Across the Street, nearby the above??? I see a reflection...I do.
Yelp review: Mercury Bar in Hell's Kitchen...I only looked in the window!

Now you see it...and you won't believe it...Hell's Kitchen...

What a night! While everyone in my building and beyond left the city...I stayed right here and I'm thrilled I did...I went to the Algonquin to see the new and improved Blue Bar. It does not open until June 5th. Almost...Not yet the hip crowd they are hoping for. Not even close...perhaps when the blue bar opens. Ugh. Blue Bar. When I was much younger my father's office was on the same street as the Algonquin. I loved going to lunch there, with him. 'They' loved him and I loved that place. Blue. Why?  I had a drink and moved on...to Hell's Kitchen...

First things first. A Goat in NYC. What? A GOAT! On a leash...of course.
Dinner at The Hourglass. Three floors. Ate on the second, at the bar. Very charming interesting place. Not hip just...charming??? Had pork sliders and my dear son had barbecue brisket sliders...yum.  I would go back...for a drink and appetizer and to gab.

Welcome to Fleet Week...!!!

A Smoking Sailor? Soldier?.....

Two Sailors and a mattress...

Fleet Week Sailor...ahoy matey...I'm sorry, I could not help meself....
Stopped at a wine bar near my son's apartment...for sherry and cheese...I'm stuffed AND  tired!!!
HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY one and all...

xoxoJaneoxox

A 'NOW YOU SEE IT' day...if you don't look, you won't! xoxo

I have, for some time, taken pictures of things I see that aren't really there. I want to put them in a children's book...but will I? I've thought about this for YEARS...well over 10. I haven't made much headway but I'd love to show you some! 

And then there's brunch. I didn't take any photos but they were so nice I have to mention: Brabant Belgian Brasserie at 316 E. 53rd St. (near 2nd) I had poached eggs smothered in a wonderful cheese sauce. Yummy potatoes, on the side. The bread, served first, was wonderful. Not for the faint of heart or the high of cholesterol! This meal included a choice of drink...mimosa or bloody mary or bellini...and maybe more??? Or...coffee or tea. All for $19.95...Lovely. Really...

A RATING SYSTEM

xo=eh

xoxo=ok, just...ok

xoxoxo=really ok

xoxoxoxo=yes!+I'd go back

Not a bug you'd want to meet in a dark alley! Or on the street where you live...

The Ghost Truck...ooooooo....I took this photo of a passing truck, through my car window...I did photoshop the sky...Isn't this scary???....

xoxoJaneoxox

Last but not least...XO A CHARMED LIFE OX...

I am making silver (and gold, if you'd like) charms...working out the (major) kinks...but it's a start. My business, A Charmed Life, has been around for years, in various incarnations...finally, the name will make sense!!!

One Rattle for one baby mother...waiting, waiting, waiting....she's being induced today!!! Yay!!! A new baby in the family!!!

xoxoAuntieJaneoxox

xoxoacharmedlifeoxox

Lunch with friends....

I headed to the westside, with a friend from Connecticut, to meet a friend who came in from NJ...I've known both since I was 9. That is a very long time!!!!.....

It really says 44 & X on the door...the outside space is lovely (we ate inside...it was chilly outside). Of course, the restaurant looks out on a gas station and traffic! I LOVE NY!!!

The indoor space is attractive and VERY LOUD. The LOUD seems to be somewhat universal...loud is ok. Of course when you are older and half deaf...lip reading is a handy skill.

On another (TOTALLY UNRELATED) note: who thought it was a good idea to put Gayle and Charlie on CBS morning news? I cannot bear it! I've had to move on...boo hoo...

A RATING SYSTEM

xo=eh

xoxo=ok, just...ok

xoxoxo=really ok

xoxoxoxo=yes+I'd go back

Not...inexpensive....

I eat a lot of just...ok food. I'd go back if I happen to be in the neighborhood and don't know where else to go! There are tons of other places to go! The name is clever as it is the address...can't miss it. Spend a lot of time on 10th Ave?....I bet you don't. The 40's in Hell's Kitchen is LOADED with restaurants...a wonderful neighborhood. Ninth Avenue is the best...

xoxoJaneoxox

The Rug...short and sweet...

Dog ruined rug(s). I lifted and threw out rugs. This floor is the result of one Crate and Barrel rug.

The offending rug...lovely on top...

The floor...after removing the rug I found the non-skid bottom...stuck to the ENTIRE FLOOR. Some areas were worse than others but HOLY CRAP SUPERMAN...what a mess!!!

I spoke to many people at Crate and Barrel, to no avail. Someone, an outside company, would gladly come NEXT week to take pictures and then get back to me. Really?!!! I got on my hands and knees and occasionally my rear end, with a plastic scraper and went to town. Oh the pain...my shoulder and my back may never be the same. I bought big floor tiles (by Flor) and what I could not scrape up (this is VERY hard thankless work) is hidden. Thank you Crate and Barrel. if you buy a sisal rug from them, consider putting a rug mat UNDER their NON-SKID surface. 

Making up for lost time...if you Blog...time is never lost! My diary...

For the past few days I have been throwing out rugs (more about that later), rearranging space, entertaining an out-of-town friend, eating and more eating...and there was the graduation...xoxoJaneoxox

The Graduation

The Graduate...yay!!!!!

Proud mother and brother! Brava!!!! 

xoxoMomandCyoxox

Graduation dinner at Esca....

My son ordered these after being told they had a metallic taste...needless to say, he ate all of them! He really liked them...???

Mahi Mahi crudo. Of all we ordered, the best, hands down. Thank you Justin!

A RATING SYSTEM

xo=eh

xoxo=ok, just...ok

xoxoxo=really ok

xoxoxoxo=yes+I'd go back...I've eaten here a few times...the crude is the best food they serve. The waitress was quite the salesperson. Go with your 'gut'...you needn't order crude, pasta AND an entree. 

Birthday and Graduation Celebration at The Water Club...lovely.

Perfect weather for lunch inside and drinks outside, at The Water Club. Friends and family...a wonderful time.

Could the day have been more beautiful? I don't think so...a picture from upstairs at the H2O club...looking north.

Happy Birthday and Graduation to you...

A RATING SYSTEM

xo=eh

xoxo=ok, just...ok

xoxoxo=really ok

xoxoxoxo=yes+I'd go back

xoxoJaneoxox

A weekend to celebrate...xoxoxo

On Sunday, one child is Thirty while another gets her Masters Degree in Social Work; another is ill. Ill makes me sad but I will celebrate the birthday and graduation with all my heart.Time has flown. It has been a long time since any of you swung from or climbed a tree. Time to reconsider... I love you all....xoxoMomoxox

Today I ate breakfast and lunch out...a banner day.

Pain Quotidian for breakfast. The Red Rooster for lunch. 

I waited quite a while for my breakfast. I think of Pain Quotidian as a lovely little chain restaurant...speedy service included. The waiter made excuses. Very nice fellow and apologetic to a fault. Kitchen's fault...too many orders, one chef? Can it be? The older man sitting next to me left a dollar tip. I think he must have waited longer than I did...or he's not from this fair land...and is just a cheap jerk. Don't punish the nice waiter!

Isn't this lovely? $3.50 for a pot-of-coffee...sweet.

I know this is blurry...the reason it's here is so I can say...
CLEAN the damn menu before you give it to me! It is plastic...not too hard. Come on....

My omelet: Mushroom and Goat Cheese Omelet. Pretty good. Too much food. Do I really need salad on my breakfast plate? Takes up space...

A RATING SYSTEM

xo=eh

xoxo=ok, just...ok

xoxoxo=really ok, really

xoxoxoxo=yes+I'd go back+I really like it, I really do

I actually cut out every article I could about this place and was very anxious to eat there...Lovely street scene...

The lovely street scene....it is lovely if you are sitting where I was sitting!

The owner...right rear. Looked much too serious the entire time I sat and, on occasion, looked up to see his sweet face. Let a smile be your umbrella...at least when patrons are around and paying for so so food! My friend and I shared not-very-good corn bread. How is that possible? It was heavy and not very tasty but very greasy. I've eaten enough corn bread in my day...so take my word for it! We had catfish. It was spicy. Unbreaded naked catfish...at first I thought...this is ok. Blah. Needs to be fried and crisp. Welcome to the world of the thin...Radeberger beer was excellent.

A RATING SYSTEM

xo=eh

xoxo=ok, just...ok

xoxoxo=really ok, really

xoxoxoxo=yes+I'd go back+I really like it, I really do

xoxoJaneoxox

What came first.....?

What came first, the door in Hong Kong or the dress in??? N.Y.? L.A.???

The elevator door was beautiful, the dress...eh.

Tales of the Crypt...kidnapping, Archbishops and Payoffs

...exhume mobster’s body in search for remains of missing 15-year-old girl...

In short, they exhumed the mobster's body, buried in a VATICAN-OWNED CHURCH. 


...De Pedis was buried in the basilica because his family feared his grave would be desecrated by gang rivals if he were buried in a public cemetery. Church officials initially refused — but changed their mind after the family made an offer, reputedly about $600,000, they couldn’t refuse.

Wouldn't it just break everyone's heart if this man's grave was desecrated? The Vatican apparently knows no shame...assuming this article, published in the venerable New York Post, is accurate. Why wouldn't it be? I don't think this is the first time the church has had it's hand out...If the church has its hand out...is there anyone there to slap it? If a tree falls....

xoxoJaneoxox

Hamburger Heaven....Imagine.

I did not eat out today. I walked to the westside of NYC to the 'finisher' (sounds ominous, it's not) to pick up some of the jewelry I make, went to Uniqlo and The Gap...still NO food! My son sent me a link to an article about a young woman with flesh eating disease. She is fighting for her life while having parts of her body amputated. If you pray, pray for her. Count your blessings. xoxoJaneoxox

Need I say more......

The day before Mother's Day...lovely. A friend and I had lunch at The Smith Restaurant NYC, mid-town. We headed west and met up with another friend at the Museum of Art and Design. This is a fantastic museum. Visit...support...join...XOXOXO. After the museum I met my son went to a street fair (he was STARVING) and then we went for drinks at The Peninsula Hotel in TWO bars...and then home, alone, to the dog. It was a lovely day. xoxoJaneoxox

The Smith...VERY loud, very friendly service, expensive and ALWAYS BUSY!

A street fair on Broadway...isn't he cute???

At the roof bar of the Peninsula Hotel...the sky above...

Mother's Day flowers from Annie and John...aren't they gorgeous...

xoxoJaneoxox

Hair and Fashion Day...a day CHOP TO OFF MY HAIR!

Today...I walked across town to return some things and then up through THE (very crowded and lovely) Park to a hair salon. Carmine Minardi is, for the moment, working out of Salih Salon, located at 20 east 67 street between Madison and Fifth avenues. Lovely. I had a do-over. New do. New color. I feel lighter...he is the best!

Minardi NYC

LONG, ALWAYS UP HAIR...

h

SHORT HAIR! I FEEL VERY BRAVE...

Now for the fashion portion of our show...

Big Green People..on 5th Avenue...they've landed in front of Prada no less...and they are UGLY!

Last but not least....

My darling children... I'm SORRY!!! The DAMAGE is done.....seek help.

(I had to combine two photos because the sun glare would not allow me to stand in one place and get the writing in without sun glare...) 

I can SCREAM at...anyone...catch me at the wrong moment and I'm off and running (screaming)....!!! Not something I'm proud of...I scream first...then I regret it. Oh my!

Stay out of my way!!!!

xoxoJaneoxox

HELP!!!

I'm thinking and wondering...

...and wondering more...(I think this is a headache)...

...I know I need help!...so here goes...

...I need an electrical engineer type person...I've searched
Hi and Low...to avail...someone who can help me
put some lights in a box! Sounds simple? NOT FOR ME!
Are you out there???.....

Not what you were expecting? Sorry...Can you hear me screaming for help? I'm screaming!

  xoxoJaneoxox