Destination to... somewhere warmer than here ;)

If you were not aware, this winter has been brutal on the city of New York.  We have had multiple snow storms, wind storms, freezing rain/ice storms, and even at one point, a hurricane. To say the least, some of us have had enough; and I am one of them.

So, during this crazy time, I have decided to take the opportunity to go visit a friend who lives in a VERY warm environment. It is so warm there that right now they are in the season of summer. Where could this place be?? Well, I will tell you soon enough ;) 

All I can say is that in the past, I was unable to go visit my friend Ferdnanda due to work. She always invited me to come in March because that is when she had time off from work. This year, an opportunity has opened up where I can come see her next month and I am super excited to not only get to see this beautiful country, but to also see a friend who I have not seen since 2008. 

Now, as I am packing up and trying to figure out what to bring, I realize that I would really like to bring a gift that really represents American culture. So, I need your help. If you were visiting someone in another country who has never been to the states, specifically New York, what would be a great gift to bring? Remember, it has to go through security and go on the plane. Oh and please keep it clean & appropriate (what can I say; that is the teacher in me ;). And, if you are not an American, think, if someone from the US was visiting you, what would you want them to bring that you think represents, American culture?... Can't wait to hear what you guys come up with!!

Oh, and about the place that I am going... Guess that too ;)

Crêpes, je t'aime

Chelsea Market has a variety of venues to check out. If you like Thai, they've got it; if cupcakes are your weakness, they've got them too.

On this particular night, we chose to have crêpes at Bar Suzette. Now, like those who know me pretty well, I am not a fan of crêpes. 

I guess that's because I never felt full after eating them and to me that is DANGEROUS. I did not want to keep eating more and more of something until I am finally satisfied... No thank you.

So, again tonight I was not interested in trying crêpes for dinners... But, I caved in. And, I am really glad I did... The photo above is a Nutella & Strawberry crêpe that my friend had for dessert.

Another friend ordered the Chicken Du Jour.

The Hoisen Duck was the most popular choice.

I chose the Heirloom Squash, Basil & Goat Cheese, which was surprisingly filling... and as the French say Très Bien.

Now tell me, which of the four crêpes would you chose? Let me know which one looks more appealing to you.

Bonne Nuit

Drive this car; I dare you!

On Saturday, it had to be one of the coldest days in Manhattan. The wind tunnels down the avenues and streets were pure torture. So when my friends and I had to walk two blocks to Chelsea Market, we were struggling. Yet, one rule of thumb to live by in any big city is to keep yours eyes open because if you don't, you may miss something. And, we almost did. 

A block away from Chelsea Market, one of my friends noticed a car parked on the street:

The car had graffiti all over it. But, that was not what really shocked us; look inside the car.

The vehicle was FILLED with newspapers all the way to the top. The question was: how did the owner drive it? The situation left us perplexed and we felt the need to take photos. A guy walking by stopped and told us that he knew the owner and that, "he is as crazy as the car." Before we could ask him how he drove it, he was gone...

The mystery has been left unsolved...

What do you want to be when you grow up?

"What do you want to be when you grow up?" This is a typical question that I'm sure most of you out there have either asked or answered as a child. On Saturday, I was with a group of children that I have met through a ministry I work with in Brooklyn and the question came up. The answers varied. One said she wanted to be a nurse. Another said a teacher while another said an FBI agent. Each child had picked a profession that they could envision themselves being. Except one. It showed in her face that she was pondering on the question and was unsure of what her response should be. Suddenly, her eyes sparkled and she finally announced, "I want to be everything!" What a fantastic answer!... And from a nine-year-old. 

The reason why I loved this answer is because it opens up one's future to a multitude of possibilities. When we find our niche in the work place, it is a great feeling. We are doing what we enjoy and the work can bring us some real satisfaction. The mistake that we make is that once we are settled in our career, we sometimes choose not to grow intellectually. We wake up, go to work, come home, (maybe go to the gym), go to bed. The cycle continues the same everyday. Yet, are we growing? Or do we believe that we are already grown up? I believe you NEVER stop growing. If you did, you would be dead. 

So, how do we keep growing? When I used to teach in the high school level, one of the things I would tell the students on the first day of school were my goals for that year. One of those goals was to encourage my students to be life long learners. Learning doesn't end once you get your degree or diploma or certificate. Learning is a constant in our life. What do you want to learn or be able to do? Speak another language? Play an instrument? Dance the Tango? Learn how to serve and help people? We need to be like that nine-year-old and decide to never stop growing up.

When you have a "sweet" craving...

   Tiramisu, fruit tarts, cupcakes and more... Martha's Country Bakery at 36-21 Ditmars Blvd. in Astoria is a delightful escape from the mundane of everyday life. After a busy day, my friend Chrisy and I would meet up at this delightful corner bakery to get some serious RNR.
   From the moment you walk in, your spirits rise. The lighting showcases the vast variety of choices that can overwhelm the eye. On one of my visits, I had the red velvet cake. It was delicious and on my recent visit with my mother (that's right, took my mom Santa out for a treat), I suggested the red velvet cake to her. Yet, she chose to take it a step further and picked the red velvet cheesecake (which is on the right). It was double the enjoyment for her to have both cheesecake and velvet cake in one.


When it came to my turn to selecting a dessert...

It was not easy...

But since I am a HUGE chocolate fanatic, I had the...

Seven  Layer Chocolate Cake! This cake was outstanding. As I'm writing this blog, my mouth is still watering from the taste of this cake. If you LOVE chocolate, this dessert will not disappoint.

Here is your escape! Whenever life is too crazy and you are in this area of Queens, treat yourself with a treat at Martha's Country Bakery... Oh, and for an added bonus... If you are a fan of the Greek frappe, this place has it.


καληνύχτα  (That means, "Good night" in Greek... What can I say, I am a language teacher).

A Flower in Queens, NY...

   Just recently, I went to a place which I have not been to in a long time.  La Flor, located on Roosevelt avenue in Woodside, NY, is a corner bakery and cafe that serves Mexican fusion cuisine. The first time I went to La Flor was about 8 years ago with my friend Kathy who lived near by.  As a result, La Flor became the hot spot for our group of friends to celebrate birthdays or just meet up. Today, even though the friends have moved away and the group dynamic has changed, I still think of La Flor whenever I am in Queens.  So, I decided to swing by the old place and taste the memories from the past.

The exterior of the restaurant is quite unique. With painted flowers on the windows and a mosaic facade that can remind one of Gaudi's Parc Guell in Barcelona, this place is hard to miss. 

As you walk through the curtained entrance, you see straight ahead a long counter that works as a barrier between the dining area and the kitchen. The design of the counter is the same as the outside of the restaurant, with broken dishes and tiles creating it's own scheme. The open kitchen is a nice touch to the ambience and patrons have the advantage of seeing chef Viko Ortega hard at work.

I sat at my table and noticed that the ambience had not changed. This was good news to me because I was hoping that the menu had not changed. When I looked down at the menu, I saw what I wanted.

    Quesadilla de Camaron... mmmmm... What a memorable dish. I have not been able to find another meal like it. Unlike most quesadillas (or 'quesadilas' as it is pronounced in Napoleon Dynamite), Chef Ortega's quesadillas are served on a bed of mashed potatoes. The tortillas are made fresh and topped with a red and green salsa. Within the quesadilla, you can choose from beef, vegetables and more.  

My quesadilla was filled with shrimp, roasted pepper and cheese.

It is amazing how the sense of taste can bring back memories that seemed lost and forgotten. From the first taste I knew that needed to make more regular visits to La Flor. If you happen to be in this part of Queens (or taking the 7 train), take the stop at La Flor. Trust me, it can easily become a regular spot. 

Taking the new camera for a spin...

Champion, looking out at the snow. With the snow outside, he had trouble sitting still.

Davenport Park; one of my favorite places in the world...

Can you see the man in the picture above?

The Frick Collection

On Sunday, I had the opportunity to visit the Frick Collection which is on East 70th street. Between 11 and 1 on Sundays, you can donate the amount of your choice which is a great bargain considering that the normal price is 19$.


The actual museum itself was originally the home of Henry Clay Frick, who was an industrialist that had a passion for art. When you enter the museum, it is almost hard to believe that someone lived in such a place. Maybe it is because Henry Clay Frick built his home with the intention of it becoming a museum after his death.




As I walked around, studying the different paintings, certain ones stood out to me. The Four Seasons: Winter painted by Francois Boucher, really caught my eye. Boucher had a painting of each season, but winter was interesting to me. You can see this painting here:


http://collections.frick.org/CUS.18.zoomobject._379$22690*1463127


To me, it is a beautiful painting. The young woman in the painting looks gorgeous with her coat slightly off her shoulders with a look in her eyes that is almost flirtatious. Yet, I can not help but notice what the young woman is wearing in the middle of winter.  Honestly, what woman would be out in the cold baring the top part of her body like that. It is evident that it is a very chilly scene because there is snow and ice everywhere. Plus, the gentleman who is pushing her in the sled is heavily dressed from head to toe for what seems to be a bitterly cold outing. Ladies, would you wear an outfit like this in freezing conditions for the sake of fashion? Hmmm... I know some of us have.


Another painting that caught my eye was Lady Hamilton. You can see the painting here:


http://collections.frick.org/Obj581$22690


In the painting, I found Lady Hamilton as youthful and hopeful.  She looks as if she has her whole life ahead of her and she gives you the sense of innocence.  Her sweet demeanor made me want to know more about her life.  As it turns out, Lady Hamilton's life was filled with scandals, from living the life of a mistress to exhausting her funds and living in debtor's prison. I was sadden to hear how life turned out for this pretty young girl.  This kind of reminds me of yearbooks. Have you ever gone through your yearbook and looked at the picture of a particular girl or boy and wondered how their life is today? Did they live a life of regret? Are they the same as they are in that photo? Change and growth is inevitable. Thus, the hope is that whatever change and growth comes into our lives, are ones that won't cause us to regret like Lady Hamilton.


Overall, I really enjoyed my visit at the Frick museum. What I enjoy most about looking at different types of art work is the story behind each work and how it connects to my own life. Hope you get the chance to visit the Frick Collection and see how the collections connect with you.

From curly to straight to both

Does your hair affect your mood? Who has used the statement "bad hair day" to excuse abnormal behavior... I know I have. Since a young age, I can remember moments where hair was a big issue. Growing up with a Dominican family on my mother's side, I learned early on the importance of getting your hair done. I remember instances where baby oil was applied in order to give my 'sun kissed curls' some moisture. I also remember the first time my mother set my hair. She washed my hair in the kitchen sink with my head upside down with me trying not to get water up my nose. Then, she would set my hair with these huge curlers that barely fit in the hair dryer once they were pinned. For an hour, I would sit, waiting for my hair to be dry. Throughout the entire process, I felt tortured and I hated that I was not able to go outside and play with my brother. But then, once I was done and saw how my hair looked, I became pleased with the results. My hair was manageable and easy to style. Plus, the compliments that came from various people (teacher, classmates, etc.) made me feel it was worth it to go through the weekly ritual of setting my hair.

Yet, when college came around, going to a salon was not an option and living the college life seemed more important then spending 2 hours in my dorm room doing my hair. So, I went natural: curly. The change was incredibly freeing! It took me less time to primp my hair and the reactions I got were surprising... People loved my curly hair! I was shocked! I thought my hair could only look good if it was straight. That was when it hit me. My hair looks good depending on how I see it. What do I like? Do I want my hair to be curly or straight (or wavy)? Do I want my hair up or down? Should I wear a clip or not? This may seem so basic to some of you out there, but for some people out there that grew up going to a salon as a weekly custom or where hair was a big part of your childhood, you can understand where I am coming from. In addition, the important thing is if we take care of our mane by conditioning it, not over washing it or whatever you need to do to keep it healthy, then we are good to go. If we like what we got, others may like it too. And if they don't, who cares.

So, how am I wearing my hair these days? I go back and forth. Some days I wear it curly and some days straight. It depends on what I want. To make things easier, I found this place in Manhattan on 207th and broadway called Hairmatics. If you have curly hair like me and want to get your hair straight, this is the place to go. It is like the 'fast food' version of hair salons. They are fast (which is a definite plus) and on Mondays through Thursdays they are super cheap going as low as 16$ (typical price is sometimes 25$). I try to go when it is convenient for me, yet with this crazy weather, my best option is to wear it curly for a couple of days.

What about you? Do you have any "hair" stories to tell? I'd love to hear them.

Time for a new camera

As I was posting my pictures on my blog, I noticed two things... One, I did not take enough pictures; two, I need to buy a new camera. In the past year, I have been using my phone to take pictures. It is kind of ironic that I would even use the camera on my phone considering that a couple of years ago, I was so against the idea of having a camera on a phone. For some reason, I am not a huge fan of combining two different technologies (is that how you would say it?) into one. I even put off upgrading my phone because I did not want a phone with a camera. I know, that is a very stubborn and silly mindset. Well, eventually I got over it; I even went as far as getting a microwave with a built in recorder/radio.

Once I got the Iphone a year and a half ago, I took advantage of using it to take pictures. Overall, I can not complain about the iphone and the pictures that it takes. Yet, I think I would be more motivated and more willing to take pictures if I had a device that just took pictures. So, I am now looking into buying a camera. As I googled to see what was out there and what would be the best option out there, I have to admit that I am already biased and am looking into going for a Canon. In the past, I was always impressed with the photos taken by a Canon camera. It even came to a point that when I saw a great photo, I would ask, "Is your camera a Canon?"... And you know what, most of the time I was right. So, looking at the various reviews of the different types of cameras out there, I believe I have found the one I am looking for: A Canon EOS digital SLR. Now, if any of you out there have any input or thoughts to help me with my search, they are most welcome... I'll keep you updated...

Fancy is whatever you make of it.

Pictures of Playa Azul in Barahona, D.R.

Playa Azul

Whenever I go to the Dominican Republic and visit the town of Barahona, I have the luxury of staying with my family. Yet, at any free moment, my cousins and I take the opportunity to spend an afternoon at a hotel called Playa Azul. At Playa Azul, we can use the beach and the pool at the cost of ordering an item on the hotel's menu. The first time that my cousin Ana took me to Playa Azul, was when the hotel was still in its construction period. The only thing that was available was the beach. Though the waters are rough and you swim at your own risk, the view is spectacular. The area is very quiet and serene because not many people know about this hidden spot. Since our first visit, my family and I have gone to Playa Azul to use the pool mainly because it was safer and more convenient. The pool is near the restaurant and the beach chairs and table add to the relaxing experience. My only regret of my last visit is that I did not take enough pictures of my last trip to Playa Azul...