Watch the NYC Marathon!

The New York Marathon was fun as always! Of course, as tradition would have it, I watched from the Upper East Side! I went to our favorite bagel "and appetizing" spot on 78th Street, on 1st Avenue, and had a bagel with cream cheese and Lox (yum!)

Of course watching the "Elite" runners is always so inspirational:


In NYC, dogs like to watch too!


One final piece of advice: Make sure you are on the side of the street where you live (or want to be!!) - I had to make a stop-over in a cafe and do a bit of brunch since I was barred from crossing the street to my home-sweet-home!!

Join the Marathon! - www.ingnycmarathon.org

East Side Bagel and Appetizing
1496 1st Avenue @ 78th Street
New York, NY USA
212.794.1403

ArtWalk Party to Benefit the Homeless

The ArtWalk party to benefit the Homeless was a touching and fun event! There were some really fun and diverse art pieces up for silent auction.


Alec Baldwin and Richard Gere led the live auction:


Now, generally, I think cupcakes for adults are ridiculous! But these cupcakes were simply amazing! We each had two!!


One of the best parts of the evening was the fantastic restaurant food stations, and plenty of bubbly Champagne!!!

Print Fair at the Armory

The IFPDA fair at the Armory is always worthwhile to check out. You can find a huge variety of prints from all kinds of artists, from more recent creations by Damien Hirst and John Baldessari to etchings by Durer, to Japanese wood block print books to artists you have never even heard of. Galleries represent different states and countries, and it is great fun to chat with them and find out more about any works that interest you, or even just ask them what their favorite piece is and what the history/provenance is. Maybe you can even find something to take home!
Park Avenue Armory
643 Park Avenue @ 67th Street
New York, NY 10065
www.armoryonpark.org
International Fine Print Dealers Association (IFPDA) - Print Fair

Behind The Scenes at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City

It was a fantastic time in the three hour behind-the-scenes tour of the Metropolitan Opera house in NYC, through their Young Associates member program.

It was Saturday so everyone was getting ready for two shows that day - a matinee and evening performance. Performances are always rotating so that means setting up two different shows! We learned that there are stages on each side, behind and below where the additional stage settings can sit when they are not on the Main Stage.

I couldn't believe that all the sets (not to mention all the costumes as well!) are made in-house, upstairs. The sets look realistic to the audience, but are in fact made of lightweight materials, and all sets are put on wheels - so they can be moved on and off the stages easily.

It was interesting to learn that even with a full house, only half of the cost of putting on the opera for that show is attained. The opera is an expensive but beautiful art form, and the Met relies on the generous contributions of donors and high level members.

Check out their website for mor information on joining the Young Paatrons Group, which is a great memberships for those under 40 who love the opera and wish to meet other New Yorkers who share this passion, and get access to some great behind-the-scenes events, as well as special champagne receptions at certain operas.
 

The Metropolitan Opera

Lincoln Center - New York City
Young Associates

Recipe: Easy Apple Cake

This recipe is so great to make with fresh apples from the NY Farmers Markets!! Even better if you use a couple different varieties for contrast. Alternatively, you could also make this in the Spring/Summer with peaches (remove the skins first!)


2 1/2 C flour
2/3 C sugar
3 eggs
2/3 C unsalted butter, plus extra for pan
Grated zest, 1 organic lemon or small orange
Pinch freshly grated nutmeg
1 tsp baking powder
Some wheat germ and ground flax seed, if desired
1/3 C milk (additional if needed)
2-3 apples, skinned, cored & thinly sliced

-Preheat oven 350.
-In large bowl, combine dry ingredients, then stir in wet ingredients (add more milk if needed for texture.)
-Butter and flour circular or rectangular pan.
-Add batter to pan. Arrange apple slices on top (let them sink into batter a bit)
-Bake 50 minutes - 1 hour (use toothpick to test if done)

Serve room temperature or warm. Delicious for breakfast with hot coffee or tea!!