Amber & Shane

I had a really fun last night having cocktails with Kevin, Diana, and Shane.

Long-time readers may remember celebrating Shane's birthday last year. Shane lives in Indiana now, but beyond that we figured out that we hadn't seen each other since prior to Our Nation's Tragedy. Is it ironic that we see each other again after the world suffers another Great Dual Loss? I don't think so.

We started the evening at the North Square lounge where I had mint juleps and Shane resisted the urge to get the beer and cheese tasting flight. Then, we went margaritas and tacos at La Palapa. Shane again was full of resistance as bucked Mexican tradition and got Prosecco (and started a fad at the table next to us.) We ended the evening with a delightful round at the bar at Eleven Madison Park. Shane got a beautiful martini made table-side. Diana got a pisco sour with egg whites.

And Kevin got a really nice looking manhattan on the rock (one big solid rock in fact) and, a couple of times, mysteriously sang the words "Bonnie and Clyde." I took a photo of Kevin with his drink, but I can't seem to iFind it. He is here in this group shot taken outside La Palapa.

But I couldn't really tell you where.

Sigh. Good times.

Amber & Top Foods Challenge: Day Two

I love brunch.  I love not eating first thing I wake up, and I love making a mid-morning meal into a social event (even if "social" just means me and a book at Plum Pomidor).  And, readers of this blog know how much I love La Palapa.

My visitors are sure to be treated to a meal at La Palapa--either the eastern or western options, depending on how much said visitors enjoy walking and how tolerant of east village youth I am feeling.  (Also, there is a waiter at the east one with the most beautiful hair ever.)  All of the breakfast options are great but must be accompanied by café de olla, the orangey sweet deliciousness that makes, if you can believe it, coffee even better.

My favorite brunch option is to get the brunch special and upgrade the coffee to the café de olla on my second cup.  The brunch special also comes with a bloody mary (or bloody maria if you have a better relationship with tequila than I do) or michelada, fresh fruit (you can have my pineapple and mango), and then your choice of entrees.  I recommend the huevos rancheros con salsa verde.

Eggs, just perfectly runny, on delicious fresh tortillas with tons of queso fresco and crema, swimming in a sea of the most delicious salsa verde ever (I could just eat a bowl of the salsa verde and be happy).  If you visit NYC for two weekends, we might have to go there twice.  I wish they were serving brunch right now.

Amber & Distant Lands

So far, 2008 rocks! And despite being a tough year, 2007 ended pretty well. James, Alisa, Nick and I traveled up to Washington Heights to meet up with Matthew and Shelley for our trip to Palisades Park's King Sauna. This is our second year prepping to ring in the new year by sweating in the Salt Room since The New York Times did an article about the Korean Sauna.

(Photo from The New York Times)

Then, we drove back down to attend Art-o's annual New Year's Eve party in the East Village. Kevin even ventured from his sick bed with Diana for a brief appearance before the new year began!

(Photo by James)

Today, we La Palapa brunched with Matthew and Shelley, where we ate huitaloche crepes and got very, very full. Thanks to Matthew and Shelley for all their driving, hosting and friendliness.

(Photo by Nick)

Then we ventured to Park Slope to visit Amy, David and Hazel! Amy made a delicious dinner for us, including brussel sprouts that didn't taste bitter! It was most excellent to see them and to hear Young Miss Hazel say her two words: "apple" and "hat." They're a terrific family.


Tonight, I'm cat sitting at Kevin & Diana's for the grey boy and black cat while they're in California. I love New York, now, more than ever!

Amber & It's All In There

This weekend, a new kitty environment was added to my household.

This Super Fabulous Kitty House really sums up the weekend.  It was made by my fantastic sister.

Candice is seen here prepping for her trip to the Gulf where she helped out with the oil clean up efforts by wrapping herself in toilet paper and then rolling around on the beach.  See?  She is not only very giving of environments to the kitties, but she also helps out the other Al Gore kind of environment.

In addition to being made by the birthday girl, out of the box which contained an air conditioner present from my parents which made my apartment completely livable again, which they gave me on their visit, and which my dad and Bernard installed, the Super Fabulous Kitty House also reminds me of all the fun games the cats played in it all weekend which reminds me that I had a super fun time watching the World Cup Soccer game on Sunday with Nick and Diana after brunch at La Palapa.  And that reminds me of huevos rancheros con salsa verde.  And that pile of green stew and white creamy stuff on an egg makes me happy.

See?  The Super Fabulous Kitty House is really quite representative of my whole weekend.

Amber & New Year, New Waffles

2011 is already off to a fabulous start.  Yesterday, there was plenty of petting kitties, then La Palapa brunch with friends, and then cider at DBA.  And, there was the acquisition of what may prove to be the most life-changing piece of technology introduced to my household since the Swiffer Sweeper:

a waffle iron.

Making waffles is a process, and it will take several batches before I get them toasty enough and spread all the way to the edges.  But, that's reinforcement of key life lessons.  Everything is a process.  We are constantly changing.... and breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

And, just like life, investment in your foundations can reap buoyant, soul-lifting rewards: you can make lots of waffles in advance and freeze them and then enjoy them for quick toaster breakfasts during the work week.

2011, I already love you.

Amber & Stomach Viruses

Chris caught a "stomach virus" and was too sick today for brunch at La Palapa.

Thank goodness he has Zach to take care of him.

Get better, Chris!

Amber & Memories

I am sitting at the laundromat, but, instead of being bored to brain
mush, I am remembering happier times. Like, last Saturday when I was
90 minutes late to brunch at La Palapa, and then no one found any good
shoes at the Fleuvog basement sale. But there were fun times, Bloody
Marias, and pussy willows. It looked like this.