Animated Gif Time!- Man Vs. Frozen S'more

How City Folk Go Camping

Location:
Dominique Ansel Bakery
189 Spring Street
New York, NY 10012

Summer Streets 2013

There is only one Saturday left for Summer Streets!

Runners, Rollerbladers, Cyclists

Summer Streets is a three weekend event in NYC where more than six miles in Manhattan is closed down and open only for pedestrians, cyclists, rollerbladers, skateboarders, paddle skateboarders, etc. Basically, no cars!

At every few blocks are exercise stations, yoga, entertainment, raffles, and free food sponsored by various businesses. It is great fun for families and everyone who wants to come out and play.

Rock Climbing sponsored by REI and GoPro

REI Visa Photo Booth

For the first time in history, the Park Avenue Tunnel was closed down and turned into an interactive light show. They allowed people to come up to a microphone and say anything they want for 15 seconds of airtime. People sang, chanted, told jokes, and made spooky sounds. The tunnel flashed lights and alternated with darkness. It was an interesting perspective of a tunnel we usually only get to pass through in a car.

Leave the bikes at the valet!

Waiting for the light show.

Psychedelic!

Say anything or serenade the tunnel.

Make your way out towards the Met Life building.

Some helpful hints for those attending the last Summer Streets on Saturday, August 17.

*Get there early. Summer Streets begins at 7 AM. There are less people in the morning. This means parking spaces (if you must bring a car), short lines, and less chances bumping into other cyclists and pedestrians.

*If you want a bike helmet go straight to the Midtown rest stop at East 25th Street and Park Avenue. The Department of Transportation offers free bike helmet fittings and a free bike helmet to all adults and children. All sizes are available and the styles now are much for stylish than the ol' bright green florescent helmets they used to give out.

*If you are curious about the Park Avenue Tunnel, get in line before 11 AM. The line snakes around the block but the line moves. Anticipate standing in line for about half an hour. You must fill out a waiver. After 11 AM, they close the line due to the crowds.

*For safety reasons, cyclists stay on the left half side of the street and pedestrians stay on the right half. Do not cross over or stop for no reason. This can cause a collision. Always pay attention and slow down when you get close to other bikers and pedestrians.

*Bring a backpack to carry around all the free stuff you will be aquiring. Also make sure you bring your own water bottle. Stay hydrated. There are water fountains along the way for you to refill your bottle.

Enjoy!

Summer Streets

2013 Winter Jam - Central Park

Have you ever experienced Central Park laden with snow? It is one of the most beautiful sights to be seen and enjoyed. Children bring their sleds, saucer discs, and cardboard pieces to help them coast down tiny hills. It is surprisingly safe and well organized. The kids are accompanied by their parents and they all take turns gliding down one by one. I have never seen so many children so patient waiting for their turn. Central Park transforms into a mini Winter wonderland.

Sledding

In January, the New York City Parks Department, along with the Olympic Regional Development Authority and Gore Mountain, hosted the 2013 Winter Jam. Winter Jam is an annual event which glorifies snow and Winter sports. I went to check it out and made sure to wear my snow boots.

Gore Mountain provided tons of synthetic snow. You would have never known the snow was fake since it actually snowed the day before and the snowy landscape blended all together. Winter Jam gave New Yorkers a chance to try out a few Winter activities like skiing, snowboarding, sledding, and snowshoeing without having to travel upstate or to any other of the nearby mountains in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. There were snowboarding tricks demonstrated and sponsored by Red Bull, ice sculptures you could sit on and pose with, and a doggie snow zone. The festival had entertainment in every corner. In addition to the sports and recreational areas, there was also a live band, food vendors, free samples, and an animal adoption agency on site. Needless to say, there was a lot going on!

Red Bull Metrorail

The happiest dog ever!

The festival was geared largely to children. There was a Learn to Play Quidditch area through a local Meetup group, Radio Disney on site, and various games to play. I took interest in an educational Winter camping and survival demo. Learning how to shield oneself from the snow and wind while collecting water to boil are important skills to master.

Survival Skills 101

Learn to Play Quidditch

Everyone was required to sign a waiver if they wanted to participate in the activities. The festival was divided into sections. The snowshoeing area had no line. I walked right in and was seated to be fitted into snowshoes. Much to my surprise, snowshoes did not look like tennis rackets! I had watched one, too many cartoons. The snowshoes I tried on snapped onto my boots and when I walked, they moved with me. They looked and felt like they were made out of plastic. They were very durable despite their lightness. The snowshoes gave my boots a larger support surface and I was even able to run in them. Snowshoes prevent you from sinking into the snow. I had a great time stomping around and am now ready for a Winter hike! After snowshoeing, I wanted to try cross-country skiing but the line was a good hour long wait. I took it as a sign to move on. There was much to explore!

Getting strapped in.

Our Snowshoes

I spent a good two hours at the festival overall. I walked through Central Park the rest of the afternoon. I came across Betheseda Fountain. Behind the fountain, the same lake I rowed a boat in had now become iced over. I could not believe this was the same park that was usually green and filled with people in shorts and t-shirts. Now the park looked like a page out of a L.L. Bean catalog, Winter edition.

The Lake

Photography Credits: Roxwriting, Desmond Chow

Winter Jam

Chobani Soho- First Greek Yogurt Store in NYC

Chobani Soho. Dog friendly too!

New York is so fancy pants. What we can buy at the grocery store for a dollar on sale, we need to have sold in a store front that rivals a high end jewelry, optical, cupcake, or macaron shop.

I am pleased to introduce Chobani Soho. Yes, the Greek yogurt you find on your grocery shelf is now served fresh daily in New York City. I laughed a little when I first heard it was coming to town. Now that I’ve seen the following of Chobani and tasted their yogurt creations, I am impressed and glad they opened up a yogurt bar. We are witnessing the Greek yogurt revolution and birth of a new trend. Frozen yogurt out, Green yogurt in. I wouldn’t be surprised if Fage opens up across the street from Chobani next year.

Greek yogurt is an acquired taste. It's not sweet. It's rich. It's is also thick. Although Chobani is more on the thinner side, some Greek yogurt is so thick that if you stuck a spoon in it, it would stand up straight left alone. The yogurt is thick because it is strained of liquid. During this process, most of the lactose in the yogurt is also lost. Greek yogurt is high in protein, has a low caloric count, and when non-fat or low fat it can be a pretty healthful option. There are many reasons why people are buying into the Greek yogurt craze.

The yogurt served at Chobani is not the same variety as the pre-packaged ones sold in the grocery store. For the yogurt bar, Chobani created 10 different recipes and two seasonal flavors. Does dark chocolate and pistachios float your boat? Feeling new age-y and want to jump start your morning? Yogurt topped with blueberries, Chia seeds, and Hemp might do the trick. Need a little something to tide you over before your next meal? Plain Chobani with a touch of honey keeps it simple. It’s also served with pita chips.

I like the Chobani store. They took the conservative, classy, high class route instead of going for a neon pastel plastic look. Chobani Soho suits the area. The store looks expensive with dark colored wood. It’s almost a look don’t touch atmosphere. It’s also crowded with tourists, shoppers, and locals taking a break while walking their dog.

The interior is a little hectic. There is a crowd and only one person to take your order. There are no cash registers at Chobani. Someone casually walks up to you, takes your order, collects your money, and then gives you your yogurt. At the back wall you can watch the yogurt chefs concoct your personalized bowl. The store is decorated with bags of Chobani branded pistachios, honey, water bottles, tote bags, and olive oil for sale. The table in the center is decorated seasonally. The last time I went in, the table was loaded with giant shiny ruby red pomegranates and pine cones.

Chobani interior

Private label Chobani everything

Since there is barely any seating, one is encouraged to take their yogurt to go. The yogurt is covered loosely with Chobani cheesecloth and held in place by a red elastic band reminiscent of Kabbalah. The bowl the yogurt is served in is made of glass, perfectly sized to hold a prepackaged Chobani from the grocery store, and yours to keep. If you eat in the store, they will trade your dirty bowl for a brand new clean bowl and let you go on your merry way. No more sneaking into public bathrooms to wash out your Chobani bowl for safe holding.

Ready to go or ready to eat!

Pumpkin and Walnut

Toasted Coconut and Pineapple

Cucumber and Olive Oil: Avoid! No one likes this one at all!

So far, I’ve tried Fig and Walnut, Toasted Coconut and Pineapple, Pumpkin and Walnut, and Pomegranate and Power. The ingredients are top shelf and plentiful. The toasted coconut and pineapple alone was a tropical experience. If you are a fan of Greek yogurt, I highly recommend trying out the Chobani store. They have somehow elevated the whole experience of eating a cup of Greek yogurt. If it still sounds far-fetched to you, I say, “Only in New York, only in New York”. Actually, I’ll rephrase that by saying, “Only in New York, only in New York. So far.” 

Chobani

150 Prince Street

New York, NY 10012 

Madame Tussauds- Celebrity Wax Figures in New York

Madame Tussaud

One thing I’ve always wanted to do but others found cheesy was to visit the Madame Tussauds wax museum. I remember watching a tv special on Madame Tussauds when I was a child. They carved a wax figure to look just like Olympic Figure Skater Michelle Kwan. It looked exactly like her! Very realistic and kind of creepy. You could look into the eyes of a Madame Tussauds wax figure and wonder if it will blink back at you. 

It is no secret that I am obsessed with celebrities. I like to document all my star sightings. After visiting the Madame Tussauds wax museum in New York I can honestly say that it is a really cool place and not cheesy at all!

The Manhattan museum is over 85,000 square feet, has multiple levels, and different rooms which groups wax figures. Interested in athletes? Musicians? Politicians? Bollywood actors? Comic book characters and superheroes? Madame Tussauds has it all and you are encouraged to take pictures and interact with the figures. I had a field day with this and felt like a celebrity myself rubbing elbows with life sized replicas of celebrities I read about in US Weekly and Yahoo news.

Even though Madame Tussauds is from London, the New York location is special because it pays tribute to all the famous New Yorkers: Broadway stars, Al Roker and Matt Lauer, Woody Allen, and more!

Here are some pictures of wax figures I encountered during my visit:

Brangelina

Rupaul

Al Roker and Matt Lauer

Michelle Kwan

Captain America

Justin Timberlake

Stay tuned for pictures of my Halloween photoshoot at Madame Tussauds!

Madame Tussauds
234 West 42nd Street
New York, NY 10036

Travel + Leisure Global Bazaar - All Access

All Access VIP Ticket Travel + Leisure Global Bazaar 2012

The Travel + Leisure Global Bazaar VIP Ticket All Access Pass was like the golden ticket from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The ticket granted admission to three days worth of events at the Lexington Armory. These events ranged from a kick off party to a global tourism themed day and one catered especially to families. The Travel + Leisure Global Bazaar literally brought the pages of Travel + Leisure to life.

Have you ever dreamed of vacationing in Chile? Mexico? Taiwan? The Global Bazaar showcased many countries by creating mini environments replicating the feel of each destination. The result was far better than an Epcot experience. I can't say if it were close enough to the real thing but I did feel like I got a taste of Barbados, Morocco, and Belize.

Mexico sampling Real Minero Mezcal

Each booth and country represented was interactive. Whether it was through food, drinks, customs, or dance, each visitor was given a chance to be immersed into the country's culture and what they have to offer. I was impressed with Puerto Rico. Their draw was an indoor scaled down version of the real life one mile 900 foot zipline through Puerto Rico's jungle. The Travel + Leisure's version was 20 feet high and about 10 seconds lasting. It was quite a thrill.

That's me getting ready to zipline.

Puerto Rico's indoor zipline

Gourmet food was a big draw to the Travel + Leisure Global Bazaar. Some of New York's finest chefs represented their restaurants. A few even came flew in from around the country.

BVI 12 featuring Chef Kenneth Molyneaux and Chef Imran Ashton
Firecracker Shrimp, Smoked Escolar Dip, Conch Fritters

Build your own mojito bar PATRON

As strong as you want it with a souvenir engraved muddler

Kakaw Belizean chocolate

Park Hyatt: Poached Quail Egg Crostini w/ Creamy Mushrooms and Truffle Butter

Marriott's Chef Dean Max: Blues Creek Lamb, Pine Nuts and Currents, Cauliflower Espuma

Sunday was the family fun day. Each destination catered to a family friendly atmosphere with activities such as face painting, dance, hair braiding, jewelry making, and live characters. I especially liked the family day as it was calmer, more breathable, and relaxing.

Easter Island body paint

Spain Flamenco Vivo!

Taiwan

In the end, the whole experience left you with rejuvenated wanderlust. Time to start planning a vacation!

Make your mark!

To the land of Bjork! Why not?

Special thanks to Stella Dacuma Schour of Stella Dacuma Schour Photography and Cooking With Stellaaa and Sara Markel-Gonzalez of Under The 7: The Roosevelt Avenue Project for inviting me to be their special guests. Stella won tickets from Girl Gone Travel. It was really nice to finally meet Carol Cain of Girl Gone Travel. I had been following her on Twitter as @nycitymama for the past year.

Photography Credits: Roxwriting, Desmond Chow

Travel + Leisure Global Bazaar
Lexington Armory
68 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10010

Stella Dacuma Schour Photography
Cooking With Stellaaa

Under The 7 : The Roosevelt Avenue Project

Girl Gone Travel
Twitter @CarolACain

Subway Ride

NYC Subway

It’s raining and I’m thankful that the subway entrance is just a few feet away from my office. I pace a few steps, look across the street at Pottery Barn, Zara, and just as my neck turns and my eyes gaze upon Banana Republic it’s time to collapse my umbrella and make my way down two flights of stairs. Just as I swipe my unlimited card through the turnstile, the 6 train opens it’s doors and a sea of people are released. The majority of them are headed towards the N line. It never fails. The crowd bottlenecks at the top of the stairs and they come to a halt as they wait their turn to proceed. It’s like merging on a highway. True veterans swiftly move in. New comers stumble into their blind side and disrupt the flow. 

Today I am straying from my routine commute. I have to detour into Brooklyn to feed my sister’s cat while she is on vacation. I take baby steps down the stairs to hop on the 4 or 5 express train. I’m scared of slipping. I wish there was an escalator. I make my way down and find an empty pillar to wait by. I stare up at the electronic sign and am thankful the next train will arrive in two minutes. The doors open, I grab on to a pole, and within five minutes I am at my transfer point.

Union Square is one of the busiest subway stations next to Grand Central, 34^th Street, and Times Square. I patiently wait to climb the stairs. Without fail, like salmon, there is always one person who defies the crowd and goes against the stream. I shake my head and wonder what rush this person is in that they can’t wait two minutes for the crowd to dissipate.

Typical Hipster (posted at theChive.com)

I have calculated my ride well. If you ride the same routes long enough, you know which subway car to ride in so that when you exit, you are closest to where you need to go. I turn the corner and part ways with the suits and ties. Perhaps I am the most conservative person walking in the crowd. The woman next to me has half long hair and half shaved head. The man in front of me is wearing cutoff jean shorts and his arms are covered in tattoos. I can count not one but two people in neon. Typical footwear includes platform shoes, Toms, and oxfords. I feel like I should be wearing Ray Bans even though it’s not sunny.

All aboard the L train. I’m in the thick of things. We stop at 1^st Avenue. A petite man walks in. He looks like he is going to take a stroll in the Hamptons despite the fact that his clothes don’t quite fit right and were probably bought at a second hand store. The train is extremely crowded. He pushes his way past me and settles on a spot right in front of me. Hampton man throws his duffle bag man purse over his shoulder. It presses against me. People who blatantly ignore subway etiquette and refuse to put their bags and backpacks down are one of my biggest pet peeves. I shake my head and do my best to not mutter out loud, “Hipster.”   

It takes less than 10 minutes to reach Bedford Avenue. The majority of the wannabe fashion plates step off the train.

I reach my stop further along the L line and am relieved to see the weather has stopped pouring buckets of rain. It’s just a little bit misty. I pick up my pace and as I walk past the bodega, I feel a sting to my hand. I lift and turn it slightly to see a black and white powdery substance on my knuckle. I have no idea what it is. I turn around and see a woman walking quickly with a cigarette caressed between her fingers. She had just burned and ashed me. I curse Bushwick and continue on with my business.

It is three hours later and all I want to do is go home. I know I am going to wait 10 minutes for a train so I pull a book out of my bag. I sheepishly hide what I am reading but the bright blue jacket cover gives it away. Mockingjay. It is a sign of the times and I, too, have been sucked in.

I get to Sixth Avenue where I transfer to the F train. It is late, almost midnight, and there is a group of teenagers yelling at the top of their lungs. I look at them in annoyance and wonder why they aren't home. Isn't it a bit late for a field trip? I have a sudden flashback to when I was eleven. I was in New Jersey visiting for the Summer and my grandmother scolded us children and instructed us to stay quiet on the subway. "It's not nice to yell," she said as she tried to instill manners in us. I didn't understand at the time what the big deal was. Now I do. The subway door opens and I hurry in to a car far away from the school kids. Peace and quiet. I sit and read a few pages. My eyes shut and I allow myself to sneak in a few minutes of shut eye. I'm confident I will wake up at my stop. I always do. 

International Restaurant & Foodservice Show- Part I

Meet companies and chefs from around the world!

Ever wanted to sample your way around the world? Learn about the restaurant industry's latest trends? Experience a pastry competition? Know the secrets to building a business online and through couponing?

The International Restaurant & Foodservice Show of New York began yesterday, March 4th, and will go on through Tuesday, March 6th. It will be three days worth of food samples, demos, and seminars at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.

The exhibit opens daily at 10 AM and what better way to start the morning than with a sample of Blue Marble! This Brooklyn based organic ice cream parlor won Time Out New York's 2009 Eat Out award.  They were handing out little cups of vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate.

Individual serving sizes of Blue Marble

Too sweet to stomach? Adam Tiberio is on hand to show off Tiberio Custom Meats. He is chopping up a little head cheese made out of pig's head, feet, and other scraps.

Delicious jellied pig head.

If you're looking for beefier and heartier food samples that could substitute for lunch, make your way through to the Japanese section. They are handing out tote bags for Japan Week (festivities in New York run from March 1 - March 11), sushi, Japanese barbecue, tofu, and lots of ramen.

Japan's #1 ranked ramen chef in Japan Shigetoshi Nakamura was creating pork ramen for Sun Noodle. Sun Noodle, which is based out of New Jersey, offers four different types of fresh ramen noodles: tonkotsu, whole wheat, tsukemen, and temomi. These noodles which can be wavy, flat, or straight are matched to a ramen's unique broth.

Japan's celebrity chef Shigetoshi Nakamura

Pork Tonkotsu ramen made by Japan's #1 ramen chef

The food samples were endless and included all types of cuisines from all over the globe. Pace yourself!

There is a lot to experience at the International Restaurant & Foodservice Show. Stay tuned for Part II.

International Restaurant & Foodservice Show of New York

Blue Marble

Tiberio Custom Meats
Tiberiocustommeats@gmail.com

Sun Noodle