Sunnyside Queens Field Trip

A couple of weekends ago a friend who lives in Sunnyside invited us to lunch in his neighborhood. We  met up at a restaurant called the Turkish Grill, and had a feast. Our friend is Turkish, so he knows his stuff, and it was fantastic. We way overordered because everything sounded so good--make sure you get the Shepherd's salad, and their version of pizza, which is called Lahmucun. The tea is a must.

After stuffing ourselves, we walked around the corner to what looked like a very unassuming market from the outside, but was so great on the inside, we would have made the trip just for it. 

It was a smoked meat lover’s paradise. We bought a ham hock, some venison summer sausage, and a selection of other things the Romanian owner recommended. They have their own farm in New Jersey, and smoke the meats themselves.

Just around the corner from Sunnyside Market was another market, that had an amazing selection of feta cheeses. And close by is a great spot to get coffee, Baruir's Coffee.

A couple of blocks away from there is the historical development of Sunnyside Gardens, where two story houses all have a common garden area in the back, and alleys you can walk through...very English style. There's also a playground in the vicinity, called Lawrence Virgilio Playground--we didn't go because we were too cold, but it looks nice. One of the most intriguing things about this area is that there's a members-only park which seems amazing. It's a real community spot for families--read the link--you just might consider checking out Sunnyside as an option for moving. You get a lot of space for what you pay, you're right off the 7 train, in the middle of one of the most diverse communities in the world, 10 minutes from La Guardia, but—the planes don't fly over Sunnyside, so it's quiet!

The Brooklyn Flea

A couple of weekends ago we found ourselves at the Brooklyn Flea, because my husband had a stall there. We'd only ever gone to the outdoor one in Fort Greene, and this one is in the Williamsburg Bank, which is an amazing building. I have to say, I think it might be as close to a cool mall experience as you could get. It's like a mall in that it's indoor shopping, and there are three levels. Then there's the food court downstairs (and you get to walk through the huge vault doors to get to it). I guess that's where the mall parallel stops though. You might be able to buy yourself and the kids an 1-2 hours of indoor activities, outside or your home. You'll eat good food (I love the sandwiches from Porchetta!), drink good coffee, and can bring home some great bread from Scratch Bread. And you can show your kids what banks used to look like in the good old days.

(p.s.  if it seems to you that I am posting way less than usual, you're right. i am in launch mode for momfilter , a parenting lifestyle site, which is going live on 1/31/11.)

Appreciating Winter

As we have been driving through Quebec, we see so many ice fishing huts on the frozen rivers.  It really makes me think about how cool it is to have something that you do that inspires you during each season, so you really feel the season.  I see these huts and just imagine that these guys that are out there in those huts live for the winter, whereas I and most of my friends just can't wait for it to be over.

Cold Weather Option: Brooklyn Boulders

We went to a birthday party at the Brooklyn Boulders, and I think it's a good way to spend a freezing weekend afternoon, if you and your kids are sick of being inside. They have gear and instructors for little kids, and there are plenty of walls for different levels of skill.  It's not a kid place per se, so it isn't dumbed down at all.  

Quickie Getaway: Vermont Day 1

I am on Day 2 of a getaway with my husband.  This is the longest we've been away (3 nights, 4 days) and it's pretty exciting for us. We drove to Vermont, and spent last night at the lovely The Pitcher Inn in Warren, which is about 3 miles south of Sugarbush (for those of you that ski).  Unfortunately the restaurant at The Pitcher Inn was closed (only on Tuesdays), so we went to The Common Man for dinner.  It was so great--very rustic while grand barn interior, with empty bottles of Dom lining the walls (its a tradition there, where people who are celebrating buy one, and then write their names and dates on it)...and great food.  Huge portions, which pleases the locals, but I would just share one entree next time.  We had microgreen salads, duck with risotto, and quail with a johnny cake and bacon on top (two quails in one entree and it was $23),  and it was all delicious.  I'll write about The Pitcher Inn and American Flatbread later this week.  After all,  I am supposed to be on vacation with my husband.

Mohonk Mountain House

We spent a weekend at Mohonk Mountain House, an easy 90-minute drive from New York City...it's right by New Paltz, a hippy university town, with lots of hacky sack players, tie-dye t-shirt shops, and vegan cafes. Once we went through the entrance gates of Mohonk it was such another world--a completely old school Americana family camp vibe with epic architecture, fantastic views, and every activity you can imagine.

Even though it was completely rained out on our first day, we still found things to do. I had an amazing treatment at the Spa at Mohonk (great organic products in their treatments), we went swimming in the indoor pool (carefully monitored to have the least amount of chlorine possible-and you don't smell it or feel it afterwards), and exploring the nearby town of High Falls, just a 10-minute drive away. We loved the antique shops there, and the flea market that happens on Sunday mornings. Our favorite shops were: High Falls Mercantile (French wine glasses, lovely rag rugs, beautiful notebooks), The Barking Dog Antiques, Spruce Design and Decor (amazing edit of mid-century furniture and '70s-ish pottery).

There's also the Depuy Canal House, which has a fancy-ish restaurant on the main floor, and downstairs, has a pizza restaurant and a sushi restaurant, that share the space.  It sounds really weird, but it works, and the food is great. I have to mention the food options outside of Mohonk, because as much as we love the place, the food needs some work. They promised they are going to work on some healthier options because right now it feels really like camp food.  But, the wine list is great!

On our second day the sun came out and it was so amazing. From the top of the mountain (it's an easy hike -- my 5-year-old did it no problem) they say you can see five states! We also took a swim in the glacier lake (divine), and then fed the fish (for a dime, you get a handful of food fish and huge trout jump out of the water for it!) After that, we had lunch outside, and then checked out their museum, which houses all the old carriages from the Smiley family (it's been in their family for 138 years), among other super cool relics. We can't wait to go back in the winter when their ice skating rink opens up and you can go on carriage rides through the snow...

Cozy Spots in Chilly New York

Rockefeller Center:  Of course there'st the tree and the ice skating, but we like the concourse level of the building itself, because it has tons of food options (Two Boots pizza, Pret a Manger), a bookstore, and plenty of corridors to meander around while staying warm.


Grand Central: We could spend days there--from watching the trains come and go, the whispering wall just outside the Oyster Bar, looking up at the magnificent ceiling, grabbing a coffee at Joe's, the food court with so many healthy choices, the clean bathrooms...

ABC Carpet and Home: We like to go test out the $10,000 beds, so we get to kick our feet and relax, and pretend we are rich...then, with our well-rested feet, we walk over to the kids section, which has toys and clothes and accessories that we usually haven't seen before...there is so much to look at, and then we get a coffee and hot chocolate at Le Pain Quotidien. This is a great place to come after you've braved the cold at the nearby Greenmarket.

The Metropolitan Museum:  One of the prettiest Christmas trees in the city--you could spend an hour just walking around looking at all the vignettes.

Time Warner Center:  If you find yourself at a performance at Lincoln Center, at the Nutcracker let's say, this is a nice place to grab lunch and wander around. There is a Whole Foods in the lower level, which has plenty of counter space and ready-made options. Bouchon Bakery has a fantastic chicken soup, and the most amazing chocolate bouchon dessert. And while the shopping there isn't that great, the kids section at Border's Bookstore is good.

Road Trip Switzerland Part 1

For a completely charming winter wonderland, that will please skiers and non-skiers alike, check out the Waldhaus Sils Maria.  Sils Maria is a small little town that is probably 15 minutes drive from St. Moritz, but the people who go there, most likely never go there.  The Waldhaus is a grand old family hotel, that's been in the same family for 100 years, and gets the same families there for generations.  When we went there, we saw babies with parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents.  It's totally family oriented--when we checked in, they were having an early evening party for the kids, with the largest red balloons I have ever seen, floating around the lobby.  There's a lovely indoor pool, and a ski school.  But our favorite part was the horse and carriage ride.  You get picked up right in front of the hotel, and are seated in a carriage that is covered with sheepskins, and then you are covered with huge sheepskin blankets, and whisked away up into the mountains, to a sweet little village, where you sit down for a lovely tea or hot chocolate, or lunch.  We had the most perfect "rosti", which is basically like a perfectly formed circle of hash browns, with an egg on top.  Afterwards, we walked back down the hills, to the hotel, working off lunch. From here I will send you towards Thermalbad Vals, one of the sexiest, yet family friendly, mineral spring hotels.  More later.