songbird's crazy world

Right now I am on a train.  The train should have arrived in Penn Station about 20 minutes ago.  It won’t arrive  for another 15 minutes or so.  A broken rail has wreaked havoc on my morning commute. Last week it was the subway.  I take an express from Penn Station to Wall Street. I was waiting on the express platform.  I coud see trains arriving on the local platform.  A local came and went; no express train.  Another local...and another...and another.  Finally an express train came in, but it was totally empty and not accepting passengers.   Totally empty and out of service = the train broke down, the passengers had to get off, and the tracks were blocked while the crew tried to get the train moving again.  Another train showed up a few minutes later.  There are buskers everywhere these days:  on the street, in the subway, in Penn Station.   You can hear a string quartet playing classical music in Pe...

NATIONAL CROISSANT DAY – January 30 NATIONAL CROISSANT DAY In the United States, National Croissant Day is observed each year on January 30th. Croissants are a buttery, crescent-shaped rolls that are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.   The key to a perfect croissant is laminating the dough. Laminating the dough is a process by which butter is folded into the mixture creating multiple thin layers of butter and dough. The result is a mouth-watering flaky crust and airy body. Legend surrounds this pastry, as is often the case with a popular, worldly treat. What is known, is that crescent-shaped breads have been found around the world for ages. One of these was the Kipferl which originated in Austria as far back as the 13th century. This nonlaminated bread is more like a roll. Credit for the croissant we know today is given to an Austrian military officer, August Zang. In 1939 he opened a Viennese bakery in Paris introducing France to V...

I'm always looking for a place that is a bit different, a bit unusual. So I was glad to find Irving's. When you hear "pastrami", you most likely think of a conventional deli.  Irving's is different. The menu features 14 different pastrami sandwich combinations, a pastrami salad, and a pastrami bowl.  For those who don't want pastrami, there are steaks and chicken options available. You can have your sandwich chipotle style, or with cherry peepers or jalapenos, or Buffalo style, if you prefer. I chose  pastrami on a pretzel bun, with caramelized onions and Irving's secret sauce (a spicy mayonnaise).   The meat was lean, tender and tasty, the sauce had just the right "kick" to be interesting but not overpowering.  There are a variety of side dishes available.  We enjoyed two sides.  Roasted corn can be ordered plain or chipotle style; the "plain" was a bit spicy, but satisfying.  The "homemade" knish had been slic...

First song is a repeat form my post last week, all about being cold and needing to be warm.  then there's Foreigner.   Moving right along, here are the Temptations singing about "when it's cold outside, I've got the month of May.   And finally, a classic:

The newest location of a popular chain, and our new favorite steak restaurant. Nice sized restaurant,  decorated to suggest the Old West -- there was a display of silver belt buckles mounted on the wall.  Our wait time for a table was reasonable, considering it was dinner hour Saturday. Service was friendly and efficient. Loved the honey wheat bread, which is served in a loaf, accompanied by butter. We started with an order of fried pickles, which were tart but not sour, served with a creamy ranch dip. All steaks are served with a salad and a side dish.  He had the mixed greens salad, a generous portion of  hand-chopped salad, with thousand island dressing and croutons.  I upgraded to a  strawberry and pecan signature salad:  strawberries ,grapes, mandarin oranges,  pecans,  field greens onions and feta.  I could easily have made a meal of that salad. We both ordered the rib-eye.  The steaks were tender and flavorful....

Donald's Trump, Mr. "Art of the Deal" never learned to negotiate to the "win-win".  His style is that of a bully, where he must win and you must lose.  And he doesn't care how much damage he leaves in his wake.  And if he cannot win, he throws a tantrum,  picks up his toys, and goes home. Well, he was just schooled by Nancy Pelosi.  He had two years of a fully-Republican controlled Congress ot build his wall, but didn't.  Now that the Democrats control the House, the wall has suddenly become a "national emergency.'  He shut down the government in an effort to force Speaker Pelosi to kowtow to his needs. She didn't. We have now endured the longest shutdown of the federal government in history.  He reached the point where it was painfully obvious he wasn't going to get his way.  the point where, in a real estate deal, he's pick up his toys and go home. But you can't walk away when you are the President. He caved. Nancy ...

I wasn't  able to get a good photo of the lunar eclipse, but I was able to get this photo of the moon rising a few days later. #skywatchfriday

Did you see the eclipse last Sunday?  Drew and I went outside at the beginning, but it was so cold that we couldn’t stay out ... I saw the Earth’s shadow creeping across the face of the moon, but I didn’t see totality. I hear that an astronomer in Spain got a photo of a meteor hitting the moon during totality.  Sounds impressive. So yeah, I traipsed around NYC on my day off, in the frigid, artic air.  Only Harry Potter could get me out of the house on a day like that. Harry Potter has been a part of my life since 2001.  Jen was 11 when she got her fist Harry Potter book.  She’s reading the series now.  Amazing how different it all seems when you’re rereading the books as an adult. When Becca went to London last year she simply had to see the Harry Potter StudioTour, that’s how important the boy wizard is. I’ve been to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios in Florida twice, most recently two years ago.  I think it’s one ...

1.  Okay, fess up.  Tell us your top three favorite pies, please.  Will you have some pie today? I love apple pie, key lime pie and chocolate pudding pie. I probably will not have pie today, as I'm trying to eat healthy...and blowing it on weekends at good restaurants. 2.  While we are talking about food... are you a picky eater or are you ready to try almost any new food?  What is the worst thing you have ever eaten?   Picky?  No, of course not.  I love to try new things.  I love a lot of differnet types of ethnic food.  My favorites are Greek and Asian Fusion.   But I will NOT eat an oyster.  No, not now, not ever.    A few years ago, at a very fancy steakhouse, I tried to eat a raw oyster on the half shell.  "Tried" being the operative word.  When I lifted the shell to my mouth, my lips clamped shut,  and I just couldn't...more recently I ate a fried oyster.  I will not wil...

So it’s the coldest day of the season, single digit temperatures (9 degrees in Central Park), with a wind chill factor making it feel like it’s well below zero. So what do you think I did on such a bone-chilling day? Drew and I bundled up as if we were on an expedition to the Artic, and then caught a train into the city and headed to the New York Historical Society. It’s a small museum at 77th Street and Central Park West, across the street from the American Museum of Natural History.  Most of the exhibits focus on the history of New York City.  But right now they’ve got a special exhibit:  Harry Potter A History of Magic .  It’s based on a similar exhibit at the British Library, and many items on display are on loan from that exhibit.  It’s not to be confused with Harry Potter: the Exhibition, an exhibit of artifacts from the Harry Potter movies. Once again I am amazed at J. K. Rowling’s talent, imagination, and the broad knowledge she as of h...

Today's forecast calls for bone-chilling cold. So guess where my mind has gone. Feeling warmer yet?  This should help. Maybe a little warmer? This one has an island beat. Yes, definitely feeling warmer. And this last one reminds me of a certain Caribbean cruise...

Moussaka, spanikopita, hummus, pita, gyro, feta, baklava... That's what I had at the "all-you-can-eat" Sunday brunch.

My friend Suzanne , who (to my great disappointment), stopped blogging about 3 years ago, frequently refers to a chronic and painful medical condition as "My Stupid Leg (trademark pending)".  I hope she won't sue me for theft  of intellectual property if I start referring to my situation as "My Stupid Knee". You may recall some of my posts about my right knee from 2017.  Ouch! described the situation -- popping noises in my knee, pain during exercise, etc.   I had an appointment with an orthopedic  physician's assitant, who told me I had an old injury, that sometime in my past I had torn my meniscus, and that I had aggravated the old injury when I started to become more active.    He prescribed gel injections. This was not as simple as it sounds.  My insurance company had to authorize the injections.  In the interim, he gave me a topical anesthetic. When the cream didn't work, he gave me an oral medication....

I love how the distant clouds look like a mountain ... #skywatchfriday

I'm glad I grabbed the photos on Water Street when I did.  The next day, all traces of the film shoot were gone.  I hope that eventually I will find out what movie or TV show was filming. But the film set sparked a memory. Way back in 1981, Jane Fonda and Kris Krisstofferson starred in Rollover , a political thriller. A decent, but not spectacular, movie.  I enjoyed the film for reasons that had nothing to do with the plot... As you may recall, there's a point in the movie where Fonda and Kristofferson travel to Saudi Arabia.   Those scenes were shot in Albany, NY.  I ought to know.  I was there.  I am a 1981 graudate of the State University of New York at Albany.  Our campus was designed by the famed architect Edward Durell Stone. Stone also designed the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the American Embassy in New Delhi, Busch Memorial Stadium, numerous pavillions at the 1964 New York World's Fair, Riyadh International...

At first, I didn’t read that as “mama” ...

I wasn't able to find out what movie or TV show is being filmed on Water Street.  I did find out that Manifest was shooting at South St. and Broad St., about half a mile away.  I wonder if the two sites are connected. They finished filming before 5 PM, but they didn't strike the  set, so I was able to take additional photos. Clearly they were creating a fictional version of The Today Show . The yellow flags are part of the set, but the wall ...that's a fountain. In the summer, it's a waterfall. I think the "TV studio" is normally a bank. You can see all the props piled up inside the "studio". This is where the "news anchors" would be doing their outdoor scenes with the crowd. There's some very interesting sculpture in the plsza, but I doubt you'll see it in the final prodiuct. There were some police cars and fire department vehicles  parked near the set.  I didn't realize it this m...

Working in Manhattan is many things, but "boring" isn't one of them. Seen on Water Street this morning: The signs and banners all read "USA 1 The Morning Show".  I googled it, but couldn't find any information.  But then again, there are so many movies and TV shows filmed in NYC,  so coming across a film shoot is really not a major news story. Law and Order used to do a lot of filming on location in the city.  It  was always interesting to see places I knew when I was watching that show, but it was a royal pain to get to court when the show was filming on the steps of the courthouse.  One time I saw them filming Sam Waterston and  Steven Hill coming out of a restaurant -- that was really interesting. Anyhow, if I hear anything else about today's happenings on Water Street, I will be sure to let you all know.

The other day I drove past my children’s pediatrician’s office.  Or rather, where his office used to be. I blogged about him last year:  Dr. G . I think he’s teaching high school biology now. Sad...

And a hour later #skywatchfriday

As we enter yet another day of the unending government shutdown... Yesterday Trump met with Senate Minority Leader Schumer and Speaker Pelosi to see if a deal could be made.  And later he stormed out of the meeting and had a temper tantrum. He's boxed himself in with his demand for "the Wall", he left himself no room to make a deal.  The purported author of The Art of the Deal can't make a deal. He promised to run the country like a business.  And he is.  He's running it like one of his failed casinos. But Nancy Pelosi will not be bullied. His base is loving it, but no one else is happy.  Government workers are blaiming him, plan to picket in front of the White House.  Republican Senators are putting pressure on McConnell to get the government open again.  Even Fox News...yes, FOX NEWS...is fact checking his BS on the issue. And Mueller's investigation slowly moves along... It's getting bad for Trump, and it's about to get worse.

"another this and that".... Where have I heard that phrase before? Oh, yeah.  In Man of La Mancha , Sancho sings, "A little gossip, a little chat, a little idle talk of this and that..." Yeah, I'm definitely a fan of Broadway musicals... Head Over Heels closed last week.  Drew and I really enjoyed that show, sad to see it go.  A lot of Broadway shows close in January.  People just don't want to go to the theater when it'scold and miserable outside, and everyone is exhausted (not to mention, broke) from the holidays. (This morning I saw three dead pine trees on the sidewalk, waiting for the sanitation department pickup.  Yes, the holdiays are truly over.) But Planet Fitness has been hopping lately.  I can't believe how busy they are!    It'll quiet down in a few weeks, as people start to break their New Year's resolutions.  Most of the Planet Fitness regulars are in their 20's, I'd guess, but I do see people who are a...

Or rather, a rat. Large one, in the subway this morning.  I was on the platform, waiting for the train.  I looked down at the tracks, and there he was. I'm used to occasionally seeing mice running around the tracks.  But a rat?  Not so much. As long as he was down on the tracks, and not up on the platform... Though there was that one time, a few years ago... I was waiting for the downtown train when I saw a commotion among  the passengers waiting for the uptown train. Apparetly a rat had climbed onto the platform.  I was glad that there were two sets of tracks between me and the uptown platform.

Too funny... Tonight at the Golden Globes, Michael Douglas called his father Kirk an altacocker.

Well, it's official, the holidays are over.   Overall it was nice, but there were a few glitches, and I have ideas on what I'd like to change for next year.  For one thing, we spent far too much money going out New Year's Eve. I'm thinking we will do a house party next year. My "nest" is now officially empty. As you know, Jen moved in with her boyfriend last month.    I like him, he's a nice guy, and they make a very cute couple. Last Thursday  Becca moved into her new apartment, and she is once again my daughter-who-lives-in-Manhattan.   Jen helped her move in and get settled.  I hope she likes living on the East Side. And I'm back on the "healthy eating" bandwagon.  You'll recall I had surgery in August, hiatal hernia repair.  The recovery involved eating a "mushy diet", meaning most of the foods I use to keep myself on track were not allowed.  And then, when I started to feel better, I started to make excuses...

Seen from lower Manhattan: #skywatchfriday

You probably guessed I’d be seeing this movie. I am a fan of comic book movies.  I love almost every movie in the Marvel Universe, I cant wait for the next Avengers  movie. DC Comics has been less successful.  Some films (like Wonder Woman ) hit the mark, while others ( Batman vs Superman ) can be disappointing. But I’d heard lots of good things about Aquaman , so we decided to see it. The current incarnation of Aquaman was introduced to the audience in The Justice League .  This movie is set after the events in the earlier film, but Aquaman’s origins are explained in flashback sequences. Aquaman is the son of a New England lighthouse keeper and the Queen of Atlantis.  Raised by his father, he is brought to Atlantis to find a legendary trident and to challenge his half brother for the throne. It did not escape my notice that this unassuming man named Arthur is seeking a legendary weapon that can only be retrieved and wielded by the one tr...

So we were walking down 43rd Street, and we found this: You can read all about it here .

Time again for our annual trek to Jones Beach for the holiday light show. It's a fun way to spend an hour or two.  You drive through a display of clever lights, stopping at the "holiday village" for a cup of hot cocoa, while listening to holiday music.  This year Drew won a free pass to the show from a local radio station.  Here's the light tunnel at the start of the drive (NYCB is the bank that sponsors the show). The sea creatures are happy to celebrate the holidays: Trying to figure out what this thing is: Santa does stunt riding! Lady Liberty: (Yeah, I know, a bit blurry.) Easter Island is represented. At the holiday village: Yes, that's a wood-burning fire pit int the foreground.  You can buy a s'mores kit if you're so inclined. We went after Christmas, so Santa was no longer around, but the area where he greeted children was: They even had a toy train setup. Maybe I should ha...