It was a balmy 35 degrees when I woke up this morning and hopped on the subway, heading towards Central Park. I wasn't the only one donning running tights and shoes, a sweatband, and wishing it were 40 degrees warmer out. Today I ran my first race in Central Park, and despite the chilly weather, it was a blast.
There's nothing like running for a great cause, and the vast numbers of people who show up for each and every race serve as huge inspiration for each other - and for me. Even when I'm running by myself, like I did this morning, I always choose someone on the course to try to beat. People who push themselves make me push myself harder, and I have managed to run some pretty great races, alongside determined, stylish, and talented athletes.
This weekend's post is a call to all of our readers, athletes and non-athletes alike, to check out your local race calendar and find a walk/run for a great cause. Active.com is a terrific place to start. The races are tons of fun, and there's always lots of free stuff - food, drinks, raffles, etc. Plus, you can get a fun race t-shirt!
Showing posts with label new york city. Show all posts
Showing posts with label new york city. Show all posts
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
Parade Day
First off sorry this post is a bit later that they usually are. I have no good excuse, but I do have a sweet topic this week and some great pictures so you can re-live the excitement.
Parade Day. The first Saturday in March each year Binghamton devotes the day to drinking and dancing in the streetswhile everyone wears green. It is our annual St. Patrick's Day celebration, just two weeks early. Why celebrate so early you might ask? I too thought this was an odd phenomena until I experienced the festivities. Apparently we celebrate early here because the NYC bagpipers use this parade as practice for the one in NYC that takes place on the real St. Patty's Day. This year the parade was better than previous years however because therre was not just one band of bagpipe(rs?) but two!
I was actaully suprised at how successful the parade was. It had a great turnout of both college students and community members as well. It was a gorgeous day, the first Binghamton has seen since the end of October. I was impressed with how far people traveled to be a part of the parade, the NYPD and NYFD had a great showing that included people from as far away as New York City. They were all in good spirit and seemed to be enjoying themselves.
I wish I could pick out a favorite part of the day but there are two things that stick out in my mind. The first was that all the floats in the parade were being pulled by John Deere tractors. I thought that nowhere but upstate New York could this be a normal part of a parade. Where I grew up I didn't see many tractors let alone as part of a celebration. They just looked weird and out of place to me.
Another great part of the parade was the green trolley cart titled "Sweet Carry Line." This car immediately brought to mind the song Sweet Caroline and put me into the spirit of the day.
As usual stay lazy and keep up the procrastination.
Parade Day. The first Saturday in March each year Binghamton devotes the day to drinking and dancing in the streetswhile everyone wears green. It is our annual St. Patrick's Day celebration, just two weeks early. Why celebrate so early you might ask? I too thought this was an odd phenomena until I experienced the festivities. Apparently we celebrate early here because the NYC bagpipers use this parade as practice for the one in NYC that takes place on the real St. Patty's Day. This year the parade was better than previous years however because therre was not just one band of bagpipe(rs?) but two!
I was actaully suprised at how successful the parade was. It had a great turnout of both college students and community members as well. It was a gorgeous day, the first Binghamton has seen since the end of October. I was impressed with how far people traveled to be a part of the parade, the NYPD and NYFD had a great showing that included people from as far away as New York City. They were all in good spirit and seemed to be enjoying themselves.
I wish I could pick out a favorite part of the day but there are two things that stick out in my mind. The first was that all the floats in the parade were being pulled by John Deere tractors. I thought that nowhere but upstate New York could this be a normal part of a parade. Where I grew up I didn't see many tractors let alone as part of a celebration. They just looked weird and out of place to me.
Another great part of the parade was the green trolley cart titled "Sweet Carry Line." This car immediately brought to mind the song Sweet Caroline and put me into the spirit of the day.
As usual stay lazy and keep up the procrastination.
Labels:
bagpipes,
Binghamton,
floats,
green,
irish,
new york city,
nypd,
parade day,
st. patrick's day
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Dinner Time
I love good food. One of the best things about living here in NYC is the plethora of amazing restaurants pretty much everywhere. I love all different cuisines, and I'll try most foods once. All of that said, I absolutely cannot cook. I never really had the opportunity to learn or observe anyone else cooking while growing up, and as I've gotten older, I've become embarrassed at my lack of culinary fortitude; but rather than experimenting with recipes or asking friends for help, I've resigned myself to pre-cooked meals, sandwiches, and pasta.
One of the best things about food (deliciousness aside, of course) is the art involved in the preparation and presentation. As a restaurant-goer, I am often exposed to the end product: the pile of greens topped with the perfect color combination of fruit and meat; the artfully compiled plate of entree and side; and the perfectly drizzled sauce surrounding a brownie sundae. But I am left totally out of the loop as far as what goes into creating the masterpieces that I eventually devour. The animated movie Ratatouille proved that "anyone can cook," and so I appeal to you, our readers, for any suggestions you might provide on cookbooks or recipes for beginners. I barely know how to turn on my oven, so I'm talking extremely easy, introductory recipes here. Please feel free to offer any tips you might have!
In return, I have compiled a short list below of some of the most delicious eateries I've found in various cities here in the U.S. and across the pond. Thanks in advance, and have a savory rest of the weekend!!
-- Los Angeles, California - Doughboys. You can't go wrong there with any meal. Decadence at its finest. Check them out here.
-- Los Angeles, California - Newsroom Cafe. Try the Healthy Jumbo Hotcake or any of the salads or sandwiches. Four of of five stars!
-- London, England - Pizza Express. They're everywhere, and every location is just superb. There's much more than pizza, though the pizza is definitely worth a try. Have a look at their menu here.
-- Boston (suburbs), Massachusetts - Kelly's Famous Roast Beef. Hands down best roast beef in the northeast. Their seafood is pretty amazing, too. Since 1951.
-- Kittery, Maine - Bob's Clam Hut. Always crowded, winter or summer, and well worth the drive. The fried shrimp is fantastic, and for non fish-eaters, there are chicken fingers and grilled cheese. Check out their site.
-- Los Angeles, CA - Pizzicotto. Best (and most reasonably priced) Italian food in all of LA. It's in the very cute area of Brentwood, so park and walk around a bit before dinner. Here are some reviews.
One of the best things about food (deliciousness aside, of course) is the art involved in the preparation and presentation. As a restaurant-goer, I am often exposed to the end product: the pile of greens topped with the perfect color combination of fruit and meat; the artfully compiled plate of entree and side; and the perfectly drizzled sauce surrounding a brownie sundae. But I am left totally out of the loop as far as what goes into creating the masterpieces that I eventually devour. The animated movie Ratatouille proved that "anyone can cook," and so I appeal to you, our readers, for any suggestions you might provide on cookbooks or recipes for beginners. I barely know how to turn on my oven, so I'm talking extremely easy, introductory recipes here. Please feel free to offer any tips you might have!
In return, I have compiled a short list below of some of the most delicious eateries I've found in various cities here in the U.S. and across the pond. Thanks in advance, and have a savory rest of the weekend!!
-- Los Angeles, California - Doughboys. You can't go wrong there with any meal. Decadence at its finest. Check them out here.
-- Los Angeles, California - Newsroom Cafe. Try the Healthy Jumbo Hotcake or any of the salads or sandwiches. Four of of five stars!
-- London, England - Pizza Express. They're everywhere, and every location is just superb. There's much more than pizza, though the pizza is definitely worth a try. Have a look at their menu here.
-- Boston (suburbs), Massachusetts - Kelly's Famous Roast Beef. Hands down best roast beef in the northeast. Their seafood is pretty amazing, too. Since 1951.
-- Kittery, Maine - Bob's Clam Hut. Always crowded, winter or summer, and well worth the drive. The fried shrimp is fantastic, and for non fish-eaters, there are chicken fingers and grilled cheese. Check out their site.
-- Los Angeles, CA - Pizzicotto. Best (and most reasonably priced) Italian food in all of LA. It's in the very cute area of Brentwood, so park and walk around a bit before dinner. Here are some reviews.
Labels:
cookbook,
cooking,
food,
london,
los angeles,
new york city,
restaurant
Sunday, February 14, 2010
To the red, white, and...pink?
I absolutely love New York City. Fictional characters like Carrie, Samantha, Miranda, and Charlotte aside, I’m not sure you could find a girl more in love with her city. I recently moved back to the Big Apple, following a three-year stint in Los Angeles, and I am thrilled to be here. You know, it’s true what they say – the city never sleeps. Fortunately, I do sleep. But when I’m not sleeping (or working), I am out enjoying the wondrous multitude of NYC offerings.
This week, NYC has been all about Valentine’s Day. Our Friday afternoon snack at work consisted of heart shaped chocolates. The grocery stores are overflowing with Godiva and ever more decadent sweets, and the florists are going nuts with their pink, red, and white bouquets. But the seasonal joy doesn’t stop there. Even the Empire State Building is lit up with its famous red, white, and pink lights for the occasion. And if after all that, you still aren’t sure whether it is really here – whether Valentine’s Day is really happening this year – there is the fabulously aptly named new movie, Valentine’s Day, which came out Friday night. With a star-studded cast and an extremely current (at least for one more day) theme, it’s bound to be a weekend success.
And if you’re in the Big Apple, trying to find ways to enjoy what’s left of your three-day weekend, allow me to share a few suggestions:
- Fancy yourself the next gold medalist and take a spin around one of the city’s numerous outdoor ice rinks (Rockefeller Center, Central Park, and Tribeca are home to a few of these).
- Go for a stroll through NYC’s newest (and most elevated) park, the High Line. Learn about the old school rail yard turned architectural delight here.
- Enjoy some of the best desserts in the city at one of the coziest and most hopping cafes on the upper west side, CafĂ© Lalo. The walls are chock full of vintage European poster art, which may – for just a minute – make you forget you are in New York. Check out a few photos and their extensive menu here.
Once you’re done canoodling with your sweetheart in the corner booth or watching Sleepless in Seattle for the seventeenth time this weekend, remember to give a thought to the reason why (some of) you have off from work tomorrow. To our fine country’s Presidents, past and future, Senioritis salutes you and thanks you for your hard work.
This week, NYC has been all about Valentine’s Day. Our Friday afternoon snack at work consisted of heart shaped chocolates. The grocery stores are overflowing with Godiva and ever more decadent sweets, and the florists are going nuts with their pink, red, and white bouquets. But the seasonal joy doesn’t stop there. Even the Empire State Building is lit up with its famous red, white, and pink lights for the occasion. And if after all that, you still aren’t sure whether it is really here – whether Valentine’s Day is really happening this year – there is the fabulously aptly named new movie, Valentine’s Day, which came out Friday night. With a star-studded cast and an extremely current (at least for one more day) theme, it’s bound to be a weekend success.
And if you’re in the Big Apple, trying to find ways to enjoy what’s left of your three-day weekend, allow me to share a few suggestions:
- Fancy yourself the next gold medalist and take a spin around one of the city’s numerous outdoor ice rinks (Rockefeller Center, Central Park, and Tribeca are home to a few of these).
- Go for a stroll through NYC’s newest (and most elevated) park, the High Line. Learn about the old school rail yard turned architectural delight here.
- Enjoy some of the best desserts in the city at one of the coziest and most hopping cafes on the upper west side, CafĂ© Lalo. The walls are chock full of vintage European poster art, which may – for just a minute – make you forget you are in New York. Check out a few photos and their extensive menu here.
Once you’re done canoodling with your sweetheart in the corner booth or watching Sleepless in Seattle for the seventeenth time this weekend, remember to give a thought to the reason why (some of) you have off from work tomorrow. To our fine country’s Presidents, past and future, Senioritis salutes you and thanks you for your hard work.
Labels:
dessert,
high line park,
ice skating,
new york city,
poster art,
valentine's day,
winter
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