HAPPY NEW YEARS 2012!

Picture courtesy of the New York Post

BIG DECISIONS IN A BIG CITY
Deciding what to do on New Years is quite the conundrum!  One needs to balance the pros and cons of the many options available.  This year we were spoilt for choice: fundraising event for international survivors of sex-trafficking, loft party with our landlord in Long Island, house party in Brooklyn, or a live concert featuring local pop stars, Matt and Kim.  After much deliberation we settled on the latter.

Truthfully, we didn't even consider going to Times Square because of the crowds.  They estimate that one million people attend the huge party each year and with limited access to food and toilets, it didn't seem like a very fun option.

Here is our how to guide for a great New Years in New York:

Step 1: Surround yourself with as many friends as possible

The lovely ladies of NYC

 

The not so lovely lads


Step 2: Identify something fun to do

"Matt and Kim" played a super energetic and fun set.
I don't think either of them ever stopped smiling.

Step 3: Ensure the venue is suitable

The Hammerstein Ballroom is perfect for live music and big crowds

Step 4: Have an exit strategy

Taxis are few and far between on New Years,
so being near a train station is a must.

OUR NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS
They say the key to keeping your New Years resolutions is to keep it simple.  Don't make grandiose plans to "loose 20kg" or vague statements about "travelling more".  Instead, pick achievable, specific resolutions that you know you can stick to.  This year, Tim's resolution is to not use his credit card (except in emergencies).  And I am going to take the stairs, instead of the escalator where ever possible.

Thanks for the inspiration Anne!  Goodbye stairs and
hello to being embarrassingly out of breath more often.

MOST TALKED ABOUT KISS
I don't know how much publicity this got in Australia, but the kiss on everyone's lips here was between Mayor Bloomberg and Lady Gaga in Times Square.

For once, it wasn't Gaga's outfit that was the most shocking. What was Mayor Bloomberg thinking?

JUST BECAUSE...
Spotted at Astor Place on New Years Day: a street performer dressed in a ladies once piece and bras (plural).  It was unseasonably warm for this time of year, but it certainly wasn't swimsuit weather.

What did he need the helmet for?

CHRISTMAS IN NEW YORK...

TO BE CONTINUED...

We may not have seen snow in Manhattan, but we did vicariously experience a white Christmas thanks to a workmate who took this little piece of Oz home with her to Vermont. 

Thanks Anne V!

CHRISTMAS IN NEW YORK

I'M DREAMING OF A WHIIIIIITE CHRISTMAS
Alas we didn't see any snow and being away from family was hard, but rest easy everyone because we still had a great Christmas!

CHRISTMAS ABODES

Although we didn't leave the city, we did enjoy a mini-vacation from Chinatown.

This tree on the roof was the only sign of Christmas on our
street.  Apart from that it was business (and smells) as usual.

 
Thanks to Ma & Pa Pak we lived the high life for exactly 2.5 days in the Mariott Marquis.  When Mum mentioned the hotel was centrally located, she wasn't kidding! The entrance to the hotel was smack bam in the middle of Times Square on the corner of Broadway and 46th Streets.  



Times Square feels like the centre of the universe.

The space-shuttle like elevators whisk you
from floor to floor at stomach jumping speeds.

Greatest shower ever!  Look at the size of the shower head!
You could wash an elephant with this thing.

CHRISTMAS TREES
Before Tim went home for a pre-Christmas trip to Oz, he left me a little surprise.  My own mini Christmas tree.  This is actually the first real Christmas tree I have ever owned.  FYI.... real trees smell delicious!

Handmade owl ornament courtesy of
Anne, my crafty workmate

From the tiniest Christmas Tree in New York, to the grandest.  Meet the 2011 Rockefeller evergreen. 

This 74-foot, 75-year-old Norway Spruce was cut down

in Mifflintown, Pennsylvania.



Then was transported to the Rockefeller Center, where it was
decorated with 30,000 multi-colored, energy-efficient LED
Christmas lights strung over five miles of wire and topped with
a star containing 25,000 Swarovski crystals.

CHRISTMAS PRESENTS
Whoever said Christmas isn't about giving is straight up crazy!  Never fear, Santa has a fantastic GPS system and never fails to locate us, despite our ever changing locations.  This year we were showered in clothes, jewellery, video games and concert tickets.

Look at all our prezzies!

 Gotye tickets from Mel and Jeff.

Ahhh, a sheepskin hat.  What else could a girl ask for?
Some eye cream me thinks.  Check out those dark circles!

 

Most terrifying zombie game on the market -
Dead Island, courtesy of Tim's secret santa, Julie.



Gorgeous silver cuff & new wallet from my secret santa, Miriam




I may not have gotten a White Christmas, but I did get a white dress. 

PS - What was the stylist thinking by pairing this dress
with riding boots?  I like me some boot action with a short
skirt but this looks like a barn yard mess.



CHRISTMAS DINNER
Temperature plays a big part in the type of meal you eat at Christmas.  We kissed the cold seafood and chilled ham goodbye this year and enjoyed a hot dinner at Brasserie, a delicious french restaurant at the base of the Seagram Building (Canadian distillers) on East 53rd Street.

Designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, the Seagram Building

stands 516 feet tall with 38 stories, and was completed in 1958. 

It is considered one of the finest examples of the functionalist

aesthetic and a masterpiece of corporate modernism.



Appetizer: We both had the scallops and brussel sprouts

Entrees: Tim enjoyed the duck and I devoured the lamb. 
Sadly my New York existence is highly lacking in lamb. 

Desserts: They changed the menu last minute. 
Tim had carrot cake (not listed) and I had the chocolate tart.


Big hugs and kisses to everyone for their Christmas messages, cards, presents and cheer! 

LIVING IN A NEW CITY CHANGES YOU

Disclaimer: While Tim is enjoying a quick trip home to Australia, the blog will be highly
Bek-centric.  I promise to provide a more rounded perspective once he returns. 

Moving to a new city involves significant change. New home, new jobs, new local bar, new breakfast spot, new coffee place and if you’re lucky... great new friends.­
   

Clockwise from WPA, our apartment, Kabin: our local watering hole,
Nolita Mart where they serve the best coffee in Chinatown and
Fiat Cafe where an eggs benedict and coffee brekky only costs $12.

Great new friends: the lovely ladies of NYC

With all these external changes it’s not that surprising that one may experience some personal transformations as well.  Lately I’ve recognized a few changes in myself:

1. I’m more aggressive on the road.  In Australia I was a very conservative driver and pedestrian.  I rarely jay walked and I typically erred on the side of caution when it came to crossing the street.  Living in New York has changed all of that.  Last week whilst crossing the main intersection in Soho, I got into a verbal stoush with a cab driver.  As a pedestrian going straight, I had right of way over the traffic making a turn in front of me.  However a particularly reckless cab driver thought otherwise and cut me off.  Normally I wouldn't have reacted but he came within one foot of hitting me so I extended my hand and slapped the boot.  He then stopped his cab in the middle of the intersection, got out and we exchanged heated words.  I knew I was in the right so I smiled smugly, turned around and continued on my way -- my baptism as a surly New Yorker now complete.

Aerial view of the intersection
of Broadway and Houston

Me channelling Dustin Hoffman

2.   I’m a little less Dad and a bit more Mum in New York.  Having never lived anywhere with extended cold periods, I’ve always been exposed to constant sun and therefore my skin has remained olive in color.  Lately I’ve noticed that my face is getting noticeably fairer.  Last week I had to buy a lighter shade of foundation because my old color was so starkly different to my actual skin color.  I'm sad to admit it, but I'm now “beige” (according to the Clinique color chart).

Me and Sal at Splendour 2010.
Despite being winter I showed no signs of pastiness.



Me and my sallow skin now.  Winter hasn't
even started, but I am looking downright pasty!



JUST BECAUSE...Anyone who knows me also knows that I am obsessed with all things vampire fiction. I know it's lame, predictable and my commitment to the genre is inappropriate for someone my age. However I am not alone and I do not apologize for my enthusiasm. For all those girls (and guys) who share my passion for True Blood, checkout the ad they are running this Christmas to market the DVD box sets. Brilliant!!!



Okay Grandma, it's this show about a crazy town in
Louisiana filled with sex-crazed vampires and they all want
Sookie's blood... yarda yarda yarda and the whole town has
 a huge orgy.  Merry Christmas Grandma, I love you so much!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p91VTAFsBoc&feature=related



ODE TO FALL A.K.A. AUTUMN

We call it Autumn, but here in the States the prettiest season of the year is called Fall.  Some say it’s because of the falling leaves and others believe it marks the time when the sun starts to hang lower in the sky.  I always thought it was cliched to ow and ah over the changing seasons, but that's probably because I hadn't seen it done right (sorry Brisbane it's not your fault that Summer dominates 75% of the year).

Central Park's duck pond

The leaves had started to turn orange and red
when we visited Philadelphia

It's not too hot and it's not too cold.  It's official, Fall is my favourite time of year and here are the top 3 reasons why:

Reason No.1: Halloween

"Eye of the Beholder" was this year's theme
at the Annual Village Halloween Parade



We represented our proud Aussie culture
by dressing as bread-thieving convicts. 



No.2 Reason: Thanksgiving

Carly, Bailey & I at the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade
(Tim was behind the lense)





The Koolaid guy (he's a jug of sugary goodness).
Oddly this soft-drink guzzling nation don't have cordial.
Instead they drink flavoured crystals dissolved in water.

 

Sponge Bob Squarepants (with a dislocated his elbow)

To infinity, Macy's & beyond with Buzz Lightyear



Paul Frank character, Julius made his first appearance at
this years Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade


 

Australia on 34th Street, Manhattan (I wish it was that easy)



Our traditional Thanksgiving dinner (at Jo's http://josnyc.tumblr.com/)
Clockwise from the cranberry sauce: brussel sprouts, garlic & kale
stuffing, sweet potato mash, shredded turkey & turkey breast.

No.3 Reason: Pumpkin Infusions

Espresso + frothed milk + pumpkin + spice = ahhhhh



The sponge is dense and moist (thanks to the pumpkin)
and then topped with cream cheese frosting & walnuts

Texture is like flan or a baked cheesecake and the
base is biscuity and crunchy

 

Not the obvious choice for an ice-cream flavor,
but surprisingly delicious!



The pumpkin makes the traditional bitterness
of beer disappear



JUST BECAUSE.....
For a strictly limited time only! Broadway's smash hit returns to Australia.  You can see Tim Daley's one man show from December 2nd until December 20-ish.  Check Facebook for dates and venues.