Happy Birthday Kira

Kira, may you party like it's 1999 (again) as you celebrate your 32nd birthday...

The older the fiddler, the sweeter the tune.

-English Proverb

Going to NY?

My co-worker and cube-neighbor Mark asked me this morning if I had any suggestions on where to stay and what to do when visiting New York. My list of old haunts and must-dos is below, but I would love comments and suggestions from others to broaden even my narrow list of locations (especially hotels, I rarely stay downtown and instead take the LIRR into the city when visiting my family). Please leave comments with further suggestions.

Where to Stay:

• Marriott Marquis (Midtown)
  Not only a good place to stay, but also has "The View", the only revolving restaurant in NY. Hit the bar and get a drink (expensive, but the one drink minimum is worth the view).
• Abingdon House (Greenwich Village)
  I've never been, but I've heard it is a really nice B&B like setting.
• Grand Hyatt (midtown)
  I've stayed a few times... it’s a nice hotel, good location, a little pricey but if you are a Hyatt Gold Passport points whore like I am, you’re willing to pay a few extra bucks to get those points.
• Milford Plaza (midtown)
  The lullaby of old Broadway.

Where to Eat:

• Becco (Midtown)
  Love, Love, Love this restaurant. For those who watch PBS, the owner of this restaurant is Lidia of Lidia’s Kitchen. Make reservations!
  Caesar Salad
  Becco's version of the classic Caesar salad
  ~ or ~
  Antipasto Misto
  An assortment of marinated & grilled
  vegetables with assorted seafood
  
  ~ followed by ~
  Our renowned unlimited table side service of
  our Chef's three daily pasta preparations
  $21.95
• Carnegie Deli (midtown)
  Some people will tell you to go to the Stage Deli, I'm more about Carnegie. The location, the kitsch factor and the pastrami are quintessentially New York.
• Trailer Park (Chelsea- downtown)
  This has become one of our favorite bars/cheap eateries in Manhattan. You can settle down in the bowling alley seats section and people watch everyone walking by. The theme of the food is comfort; mac and cheese and tater tots are very good. Very kitschy.
• Waters Edge (In Queens, but there is a complimentary Water Shuttle from midtown (34th)
  I've never been, but if you are looking for a romantic view, this is your place.
• ESPN Zone (Midtown)
  If you are lucky, you might catch a show being taped.
• Mariella Pizza (Midtown)
  Very good pizza, although most little pizza joints in the city are going to give you a good slice at reasonable prices. This place is actually recommended by Oprah, for those who want a connection to fame.

What to Do:

• TKTS Booth(midtown- Times Square)
  Same day play/musical tickets at 50% off face price. Worth waiting in line
  Visit Playbill Online to see what is playing right now.
• Yankee Game (Bronx)
  If you are fortunate enough to visit while the Yankees are in town, you must take a subway up to the Bronx and take in a game. Be prepared to pay top dollar for scalped tickets.
• Empire State Building (midtown)
  Worth the view (get there early!
• Golf at Chelsea Piers (Chelsea- downtown)
  What better way to fight off stress then driving golf balls over the East River.
• David Letterman (Midtown)
  You must request tickets in advance or wait on line the day of to see if you can get in. Very fun to see a taping. Bring a coat; he keeps the theatre very cold.
• St. Patricks Cathedral or St. John's the Devine
  St. John the Devine is the world's largest cathedral and is never expected to be fully completed due to its size.
• Red Rocks West(Chelsea-downtown)
  Might not be your thing, but it is coyote ugly without all the tourists. If you've ever want to see the lady in your life dance on a bar, this is your place.
• Culture Club (West Village, SoHo)
  Want to dance like it's 1989? This is the place. It has great people watching, bachelorette parties. No cover on Fridays ($25 on Saturdays).
• Live Music
  It is all about who is playing, but places my (very hip) sister swears by are The Continental, The Bowary Ballroom and Roseland. (I know nothing of the Luna Lounge, but it certainly has a great name!) (O'Neill's Irish Bar is also known as Brady's (and Aidan's) Bar on Sex and the City)

Getting Around:

• Handsome Cab Ride (midtown)
  Take a horse cab ride through Central Park. Very romantic.
• PATH Train
  Just in case you happen to want to visit New Jersey you can get there via the PATH.
• Circle Line Sightseeing tours
  What better way to take in Manhattan then to sail around it.
• Double Decker Bus
  It is worth doing a tour once to get some of the history and background stories of the city.
• JFK Airtrain
  It is a pain in the butt to get luggage through subway turnstiles once you get into the city, but the airtrain is much cheaper then taking a cab.

Where to Shop:

• Fifth Avenue (Mid to Uptown)
  While you are our shopping, stop by St. Patrick’s Cathedral to repent.
• Century 21 Department Store (downtown)
  Designer labels at discount prices.
• Macy*s Herald Square
  The original!

100 To Dos Before I am Done

It is customary for bloggers to write 100 things about themselves to celebrate their 100th post. Since I write about myself rather frequently and would prefer not to bore you to tears, it is much more entertaining to share my personal checklist. You often hear people make mention of places and experiences “on my list,” but how many of us actually take time to make that list? Everyone should have a checklist of things they want to achieve in their lifetime; to strive for, to work for, and to live for. Sparked by the recent surge of books in the genre of “Things to do before you die,” it was time to officially pen my own list. Hope you enjoy my personal checklist of 100 things to do before I die and are inspired to start one of your own (and of course maintain the list of memories of things you have already accomplished: your to-done list).

Attend:
1. a creative writing retreat
2. a concert of Vivaldi Concertos performed by a famous orchestra
3. a game at every Major League Ballpark
4. a Grand Slam tennis match
5. a hot air balloon festival
6. a U2 Concert (July 23, 2011 at TCF Stadium in Minneapolis)
7. an Alanis Morissette concert
8. a wedding in Las Vegas
9. the Gilroy Garlic Festival
10. the Highland Games
11. the Kentucky Derby
12. the Oregon's Brewers Festival


Celebrate:
13. Halloween in Salem, Massachusetts
14. Oktoberfest in Germany (Regensburg Dultfest, September 2013, better than Oktoberfest!)
15. my 25th wedding anniversary renewing our vows on a tropical island
16. Thanksgiving by marching in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
17. the Summer Solstice in Reykjavik, Iceland


Cook:

18. a Sunday dinner with my whole family at a villa in Tuscany
19. at an overseas cooking class


Dance:

20. lessons with my husband
21. the Polka in Eastern Europe


Dine:
22. at a Mario Batali or Bobby Flay restaurant (Vegas, August 2012)
23. at Charlie Trotter's
24. at French Laundry
25. at Sardi's
26. at the Chef's table anywhere
27. in a Café with my last name in Italy (Rome, April 2012)
28. on Buffalo Wings at the Anchor Bar (September 2008)
29. on Lobsters in Maine


Drink:
30. at a vineyard with my last name in Italy, Australia or California
31. at the Cape Winelands in South Africa
32. at the Chateau Ste. Michelle Vineyard
33. Champagne on a vineyard in Champagne, France
34. frothy goodness on a German Beer Trail (September 2013)
35. through Kentucky's Bourbon Trail
36. through Scotland's Scotch Whiskey Trail
37. wine and plenty of it on a vineyard tour with Kristen, Renee', Stacy and Diane


Experience:
38. a full day at a luxury spa
39. an African Safari
40. scuba diving
41. sex on the beach
42. raising $100K for animal charities


Host:
43. a Foreign Exchange Student
44. my family for a holiday in my home


Purchase:

45. an original Tom Everhart painting
46. a convertible for my WARM CLIMATE retirement


Read:

47. A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
48. every Bill Bryson book
49. The Bible (or the Bible for Dummies (Removed)
50. Thomas Jefferson by R. B. Bernstein
51. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy


Receive:

52. my Master's Degree (Removed)


Rescue:

53. a poodle mix


Ride:
54. the Cyclone in Coney Island (July, 2014)
55. the roller coasters at Cedar Point


See:
56. Michangelo's David (April, 2012)
57. Sistine Chapel
58. Monet's Gardens at Giverny


Skate:
59. Miami's Great EsSkate
60. Rockefeller Center
61. the London Inline Marathon
62. the Napa Valley Inline Marathon
63. the New York City Inline Marathon


Stay:

64. at a Disney Deluxe Resort
65. at a Ritz
66. at the Fairmont Banff Springs
67. at the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac in Quebec City
68. at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island
69. at the Hayman Island Resort in Australia
70. at the Hotel Del Coronado (completed March 2008)
71. at the Inn at Little Washington
72. in a castle (Oberwesel, Germany; September 2013)
73. in a lighthouse
74. in an over the water bungalow in the South Pacific
75. on a boathouse


Swim:

76. the Mediterranean Sea in the Greek Isles
77. with a dolphin
78. with the animals of the Galapagos Islands
79. in an ocean with my dogs


Travel:
80. across the Atlantic on a cruise
81. in a hot air balloon
82. on a water plane


Visit:

83. all 50 US States by the time I'm 50 (which will probably be 51 states by 51 by the time I get there)
84. all 7 continents (including Antarctica before the environmentalists realize we shouldn't be there)
85. a village of my descendants with my Mother (September, 2013)
86. Capri, the Amalfi Coast, and Montalcino Italy (April, 2012)
87. Cooperstown
88. Croatia (soon, before it gets McDonalds and Starbucks)
89. Disney World with my nieces and nephews
90. Mount Rushmore
91. Nantucket Island
92. Stonehenge
93. the Czech Republic
94. the Easter Island Statues
95. the Great Wall of China
96. Pyramids of Giza
97. the Seychelles (Chelle sees seashells at the Seychelles on the seashore)


Win:

98. a photo contest


Witness:

99. sunrise from Cadillac Mountain


Write and publish:

100. a book
101. a travel article

I would love to hear about what is on your list. Leave me comments to inspire my extended list...

Bonus To Dos:

102. Travel around the world on a cruise
103. See a Bills game in Buffalo
104. Do 10 pull-ups without help
105. Learn Italian
106. Get my boating license
107. Kite Surf