And Many Happy Returns!

I don’t know how she does it and at her age she never looks weary or forlorn, she holds her chin high and casts her gaze with such determination. I like to think she stands watching the horizon with great expectation, delighted by the breaking waves, and feeling the misty sea breeze while at times can be turbulent and unruly, it never shows on her face.

Sometimes I try and get into her head to see with my own eyes the ocean kissing the sky, that horizon line and the constant swell and release of our shores to gain some perspective from her dedication as well as her exemplary presence and spirit.

I look upon a fine line that has been watched for centuries, the horizon that holds optimistically to hope, witnessing every sunrise, and acknowledging every sunset all the while holding her lamp to the nights’ sky. Following the guidance of that flicker of light, and like a star or a satellite she continues to stand as a radiant beacon and a standard by which we measure humanity.

With life expectancy on the rise, this may be food for thought for a long time, and although it may no longer be taboo to ask a lady her age, think before outing a lady by complement or by curiosity because it remains her prerogative to preserve the mystery.

Please note and don’t pass judgment, she was conceived in France at a dinner party in 1865 by Edward de Laboulaye. She was created by Fredrick Bartholdi and crafted with the help from Gustav Eiffel by 1884 and standing on her pedestal in the New York Harbor 125 years ago October 28, 1886.

As a birthday wish, take a moment and reflect on “Liberty Enlightening the World” and know that freedom is your right and not a privilege. She stands tirelessly as a reminder to all.

The Food Experience no. 1

Ever considered making an entire meal out of appetizers?

Today, my neighbors and I ventured into Chinatown to lunch at Dim Sum Go Go. The interior has a nice young vibe, good variety, and great for groups.

Dim sum is best described as small bites, and a Cantonese term for snack. This custom came to be in the traditional teahouses accommodating weary travelers along the ancient Silk Road and eventually makes its way to the U.S. Yes it is a wonderful feast of fried and steamed dumplings, spring rolls, sticky buns, and rice concoctions all with delightful dipping sauces. What makes it unique can be the different way in which it may be served, and this is what makes it fun.

In some dim sum restaurants there is no written menu, Chinese women push carts of ready-to-serve delicacies around the room. Continuously during the meal, the cart passes, always tempting you with more, and in the good-ole’ American way one just ogles and points as if in stupor all the while bamboo steamer baskets collect on the table. Today we were offered menus and when our waiter realized we were having a difficult time deciding he handed us a laminated collection of pages with photographs of each item.

At Dim Sum Go Go, we write the order using the form on the table. Of course, we ordered and shared the pork filled Spring Rolls but really mixed it up with the dumplings. Well that was after we discussed shellfish allergies, we ordered Jade Dumplings, they were vegetable filled, one with asparagus and another with soybeans. The rice rolls are not rolls at all, but stuffed, translucent rice noodles. We stayed away from the shark fin and the chicken’s feet but ordered the Chicken & Sticky Rice in Lotus Leaf.

Using chopsticks for most of the meal I was doing all right for myself; however, I must have put the waiter on guard when I asked for a fork. It helped with the thing wrapped in the leaf because I was unsure how to eat it. I took my fork and started hacking into it, but before I could do any damage the waiter leaned over and discretely, with his heavy Chinese accent, said, “You unfold the leaf and eat the rice inside.” Good to know!

It may be obvious that I am no ‘foodie,’ but every once in a while I like to step out of my comfort zone, and by the way while in New York with the incredible number of choices you just can’t leave without trying something new -- dim sum is fun…

For me, Something To Be Proud Of

Here in New York City we are preparing for this the 10^th anniversary standing united, vigilant, and aware. “Special Reports,” and “Breaking News” in the past two weeks, we have endured a tremor and Hurricane Irene we are on high alert. In preparation of the ceremony in remembrance of 9/11 we are asked to go about our routines as usual. Holding my chin high, I cannot help but to feel a little edgy because the news announcements and this feeling reminds me of the days drawing closer and closer to the year 2000 or more ominously Y2K.

Two weeks ago the news reports were breaking every hour preparing the northeastern seaboard for an approaching hurricane and I was hired to give a tour. The group was arriving via cruise ship; however, with no ship to shore contact, I had no idea if the group would arrive or not. Preparing for the in coming hurricane I was stocking up with provisions, filling my bathtub, as reporters instructed while more details began to hit the airwaves. I was aware that mandatory evacuations were in place and my zone was basically 2 blocks away from the red zone and therefore, I was a little on edge myself. Low and behold at 8:30 am about 12 hours before the expected storm my phone rings, the ladies had arrived.

Barely awake, I logged into my computer to get the latest information in order to prepare these guests and was very concerned knowing that the Subway system was going to be shut down. It was unprecedented to have mass transit shutdown. For the ‘New Yorker’ in me it was similar to the feelings I had ten years ago.

In the whirlwind of emotions today, I received this letter from the lovely lady that coordinated that tour two weekends ago and it comes at such perfect time and with it, it brings comfort to my heart.

Dear Sean,

Our cruise ship had been racing hurricane Irene for several days, hitting Puerto Rico right after our departure.

When we arrived in New Jersey, there were so many rumors flying around, we were all a bit unsettled. We had pre-booked your tour, however we doubted you would come. We were told that all bridges and public transportation were closed.. If the driver couldn’t make it there, we were literally stranded. All airports were closed and N.J. hotels full.

So, this is the state we were in when the driver did arrive.

You were truly the light for us in all of that turmoil. First, you gave us the most interesting tour. All of your stories and descriptions brought your NYC alive for us. You could not have been more caring or more sensitive to our predicament. You went above and beyond by taking us to find some food and water. Never have I had that kind of treatment. You are personal. You are very giving and caring. The ladies all agree that your tour was the highlight of NY.

Thank you so much for being our angel on that day. We all came away richer for having spent that day with you.

With Much Gratitude,

Marilyn R.

P.S. You probably don’t need it, however if you want to use the above as a testimonial you have my permission.

So let it be known that through rain, sleet, snow, and yes, even hurricane the tour will go on!

Salutations and Declarations

With fife and drum fading in the distance as the first major campaign between The Continental Army and His Majesty's Royal Army happened, the fine line of war was not yet in place. A carefully written and addressed letter may have made a difference.

Lord Howe, General William Howe of the Royal Army, encamped on Staten Island, writes on July 7, 1776 for reinforcements. Unlike today there was no tweet on July 4th, the day of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Actually a copy of the declaration did not reach New York until July 9th.

To write a letter during this time of the Revolutionary War it would have taken as much as six weeks time for mail and news to be received and then cross the Atlantic with response. General Howe had no way of knowing that the colonists had signed an agreement. Lord Howe considered himself a master of pardons and a peacemaker, he found himself in a compromised situation a he waited for reinforcements.

During this time General Howe tried to correspond with what he considered the rebel army. He addressed the written correspondence to “George Washington Esq.” (Esquire – a man with no title, a subject.) With no respectful acknowledgement, respect was not returned.

Howe wasn’t going to recognize Washington as a comrade-in-arms, let alone an equal, and therefore a solution was found by making a verbal, rather than written request and that request was to “His Excellency General Washington” to meet with Lieutenant-Colonel James Paterson, the adjutant general of the British Army, the backhanded attempt was never acknowledged.

It was August 1776, remember it took as much as six weeks for correspondence to travel and with the wait and frustration, strategy, and impulse, August 27 – 29, 1776 one of the most notorious battles for freedom occurred: The Battle of Brooklyn.

The Sign of the Times

Parking can be a hassle in a high-rise community.

In 1897, the island of Manhattan could never compete on an international level as a major city. A small island, the land is finite. It was the shared New York harbor that provided a common territory, access, and later, the Greater New York City Area. The consolidation of 1898, January 1, the merging of the five boroughs; Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island, New York City became the largest city in the world, and with this parking can be a headache.

The hub of traffic and the dire of rush hour the streets of Manhattan are hustling, and bustling around the clock. The population continues to be the test bed for innovation, and implementation. Understand it wasn’t until 1915 that there was a concentration of automobiles that required a need for a traffic light. Red, green, and amber all mean go to a horse.

Since 1897, New York City has transitioned from coal burning locomotives to the electric Subway system with a most vigorous concern for noise and air pollution. As much as this city represents corporate America, this city adapts and applies. Parking in a city of 1.5 million inhabitants and an influx of twice that many people filling the streets during rush hour it seems only fitting that like our handheld devices there is now a docking station for what we call a ‘smart’ car. Can this possibly get us a step closer to the much-anticipated hovercraft?

Existing Edifice + Big Idea = High Line

What led to the elevated train system in New York City is nothing new. The term “road rage” best defined as the aggressive, angry behavior by an automobile driver, hits the airwaves in the 1980s around the same time that gentrification and the “yuppie” takes Manhattan. “Going Green” in the streets of the city, new bicycle lanes once again keep pedestrians on their toes. Hello, High Line.

During a time most people can agree as a period of great advancements, New York City was at critical mass, it was the mid-1850s traffic jams became a way of life, not only did manure make getting around town difficult but the number of horse drawn vehicles; wagons, livery, and individual carriages clogged the streets, not to mention the pushcart trade, there was simply no way for someone to get from here to there with any expediency. Take it off the streets, the obvious solution, either by going over them or by going under them, electricity not yet the viable option, the rapid transit system was born in the elevated train.

With landmark status the last of the standing “El Trains” as they were known has been given new purpose, originally known as the ‘tracks to nowhere’ the Tenth Avenue El is the new beat in town. Overhauled and landscaped it gives the pedestrian a little slice of heaven right here on earth. This venture has revitalized an almost defunct warehouse district into an open-air promenade with a festival atmosphere.

K-BOOM! NYC FIREWORKS! HAPPY 4th of July :-)

Great celebration and good friends!

The sight is awesome and something to behold, the most spectacular thing is seeing the burst and the flares; however, the delay of the boom bounces off of the tall buildings giving the event the ultimate 3D visual as some explosions expanded in space moving towards us with surround sound, boom, boom, K-BOOM!

Emulating 'bombs bursting in air,' hairs rise with every flare, burst, shower, flash, sparkle, spill, and then evaporates into smoke. The anticipation is so moving.

Spending the 4^th of July with hometown friend, Melanie Northrop Nichols, I met her after she snagged free tickets to the Statue of Liberty, we started our day around 1:00pm strolling along the Brooklyn Heights promenade where I shared Revolutionary war history, the Battle of Brooklyn August 27 – 29, 1776 one of General George Washington’s first escapes & foils the Red Coats plans, where he and his troupes crossed the East River on a very dark rainy night. We truly shared, and enjoyed a red, white, & blue banner day!

Happy 4^th of July! Thank you Melanie.