How Apropros...

...that the book I am currently reading is called Winter Garden. Ahh yes, once again New York City has snow in the forecast! While I have not yet finished this his novel by Kristin Hannah, I am already thoroughly engrossed in the mystery of the tale.  Complicated families with mysterious pasts can't help but enchant me...  This novel was recommended to me by my sister who knew that I loved (and sobbed through) the book Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay.  I am told that the novels are similar in many ways, and, thus far, I am loving this novel as well.  I'll let you know how it goes!

An Additional Recommendation: 

Champagne Love...

Tomorrow is Friday! YAY for the weekend!  This week is restaurant week in New York City and I am excited for my reservation tomorrow night.  This is going to be a champagne filled weekend for me--LOVE... From pre-dinner champagne tomorrow night at Flute with my lovely boyfriend to a champagne brunch with my favorite girls on Saturday, I can't wait to get my fill of my favorite cocktail...

Image courtesy of Flute

As I think about that oh so sacred time in a working woman's week (the weekend), I can't help but recommend a great book for those looking for things to do around New York City.  I just think that it is such a wonderful compilation of places, tastes, and even tourist attractions! While the book is not organized well for someone who wants to quickly look something up, it is a great book to read before visiting New York, or if you are trying to think about things you might like to do in the future in this city with so much to do.  Ranging from the uber-touristy--which you might want to avoid if you live here--to the best-kept secrets, this book does an excellent job of examining the big apple! 

In honor of champagne brunch...here's the recipe for my favorite champagne cocktail courtesy of my  favorite San Diego girl!

1/2 part St Germaine Elderflower liquor
Top with champagne (Veuve or Piperheidsieck are my favorite moderately priced champagnes; however, any champagne works!)
Garnish with fresh strawberries
YUMMMM...

Delicioso!

Grown Up Ghost Story

While studying in London as a teenager, I remember being fascinated by crypts.  For me, it was not so much the concept of a crypt, but rather the fact that they coexisted so strangely with the vibrant city of London.  At one point, I remember descending into an old church containing a cafe where I ordered a coffee, looked down, and saw a placard with the name and dates of a life on the floor beneath me.  I love London and, perhaps it is because of experiences like this, that I always associate that city with intrigue and   mystery.  From the highly touristy "Jack the Ripper" nighttime tour to the gruesome tales told about the Tower of London, even someone who does not believe in ghosts might just for a second allow themselves the fun of being (slightly) scared.

I had this same sentiment while reading Elizabeth Kostova's The Historian.  Her beautiful writing (and truly it is richly developed with imagery, impeccable word choice, and gradually building suspense) weaves a story that is both fascinating and frightening.  It is perfect reading for a night like tonight in New York City when snow is falling as thunder and lightening simultaneously occur.

Essentially, it is truly the perfect grown-up ghost story!

While normally my reading companion beverage of choice is hot, this novel warrants a nice glass of full-bodied red wine.  Red like the blood sucked by the scary vampire in the novel... Hey--cheesy similes are allowed! I digress...However, I am currently loving a California cabernet from Napa Valley called Irony.  

Awaken Spring!

On my snowy commute to work this morning, I passed the amazing public art display, "Roses" by Will Ryman.  The bright cheery flowers juxtaposed with the intense snowfall warmed my morning and made me long momentarily for spring--though I hate to ever wish time away.

That said, no harm in daydreaming about spring warmth, blooming flowers, picnics in the park and a lovely warm weather read...

Ahhh yes...a picnic like this one would suffice.

As for reading material, for some reason, the warmer the weather gets, the more that I want to read lighter and airier books.  In order to truly fullfil my warm weather yearning, my book choice tonight will be none other than one of my favorite summer book series: Meg Cabot's Queen of Babble.  I promise no intellectual awakenings; however, this book (and the two that follow) are fun, light and cheerful.  Now if only the weather would follow suit!

Childhood Nostalgia

As a New Yorker, abundant access to world class museums is just one of the many residential perks.  So why is it that of all the museums that are scattered across the city, the one that I constantly want to go to is The MET? American Decorative Arts junkie? Egyptian Art buff? European Sculpture Court aficionado? Nope! While I do ADORE the roof garden in the warmer months and I do love art...I am convinced that my obsession stems from a favorite childhood book: From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konisburg.

This past weekend, in a moment of nostalgia, I reread the book that I loved so much as a child.  It was amazing how vivid my recollections were of this book that I read years ago...especially considering that I have, quite possibly, the world's worst memory.

Even despite the outdated references of the book, such as the typewriter in the store window on Madison Avenue, or the fact that $1.27 bought the children lunch when I just recently spent over ten dollars on the UWS for my unglamorous deli lunch this afternoon, something about this book is so quintessentially New York City that time seems not to have passed at all since its publication in the late 1960s.

Image courtesy of this seller of vintage wares on Etsy!

Image  

While I don't have children, if I did, I would force them to read this book. Then I would drag them to The Met, which would hold mystery and excitement and the possibility that two children escaping the banality of their CT existence might just be hiding behind the reconstructed Egyptian temple wall...

So...in the spirit of childhood nostalgia...grab some hot chocolate with marshmallows and start reading!!

Image Credit

Looking for a great hot chocolate recipe...?

Here's an amazingly delicious one from Bon Appetite! 

Spiced Hot Chocolate

Ingredients

• 2 cups whole milk
• 1/2 cup golden brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 cup whipping cream
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 4 ounces chopped bittersweet or semisweet chocolate
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• Garnish: whipped cream, cinnamon sticks

Preparation

• Whisk milk, brown sugar, and whipping cream in heavy large saucepan over medium heat until mixture begins to simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low; add cocoa powder, chocolate, and cinnamon; whisk until chocolate is melted and smooth. Pour hot chocolate into 6 demitasse cups. Garnish each with whipped cream and a cinnamon stick.

Read More http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/2005/12/spiced_hot_chocolate#ixzz1C0PBZcRk

Walkin' in Memphis

Over the past year, I keep hearing about this book called The Help.  You know the one. Bestseller blah blah blah.  From my 80-year-old Nana to my librarian sister and even from my friend who hates to read came the same recommendation over and over.  Last week, I finally decided to read Kathryn Stockett's The Help and I must say, I now join the ranks of those recommending this novel.  While I did feel that the book failed to adequately address some of the class issues inherent to the topic of domestic workers, it does a good job of opening up discursive space for some of the race and gender issues in a way that is thought-provoking without being preachy, boring, or didactic.  I predict this will one day soon be a movie as there was literally one scene of racial harmony so dramatic that I could almost hear the music crescendo as I read.

On a completely shallow note, the book's southern food and architecture references made this northern gal swoon. Perhaps it is my New England upbringing, which while quaint and idyllic lacks the charm of wide verandas and freshly brewed sweet tea in a mason jar.  

Images courtesy of the  Inn at Palmetto Bluff... <3

Pass the sweet tea please... 

Image courtesy of Southern Living 

Snowy Nights

Once again snow is in the forecast for New York City. While perhaps not a storm of the momentum of the blizzard of Christmas 2010, even just a snowglobe-esque quantity makes me dream of bathtubs, tea and, of course, a good read.  With that in mind, any reading tonight need not transport me to distant locations but rather immerse me in the comfort of home... That said, I certainly wouldn't turn down a trip to the French Alps.

While the view out my window is more taxicabs and coffeeshops, I will pretend that the snow I see is not slushy and brown but powdery and stacked high on the French Alps.  Fireplace lit.  Tea steaming. Mountain views. And what to read in this perfect setting? Why Mary Shelley's Frankenstein of course! 

There's nothing like the romance of gothic fiction to settle in for a long winter's night...

Add a fireplace, some tea, and...voila! Bring on the snow...

A One Night Stand in Scotland

One Day, by David Nicholls chronicles the life and love of Emma and Dex following a one night stand on the evening of their college graduation.  While the book adheres to many of the stereotypes of its genre, it is not without wit and depth in places and, most importantly, it is fun and even incites the occasional tear.  A worthwhile read especially as rainy day afternoon book candy.  Oh and rumor has it, or rather, the NY Post, that the book will soon be a film starring Anne Hathaway...so read now before the book cover reminds you of The Princess Diaries. Not all is lost though...the film will be directed by Lone Scherfig.  Oh how I adored An Education!

Love it or hate it, one thing to be said for sure about this book is that it will make you want to travel to Edinburgh, the place where Emma and Dex first meet.  Can we talk for a second about how charming this bed and breakfast looks?? And ok, so while it's not exactly Edinburgh, the romantic climbing ivy won me over.

Besides, this inn, The Yorke Arms Hotel, has a to-die-for restaurant as well. Scallops, anyone?? Yum.