Super Sunday, a la Buttercup

I know when most people hear the phrase Super Sunday they think of football and the football game and festivities that are approaching.  Not to take anything away from this major national sports celebration, it's not Buttercup's idea of Super Sunday. My idea of a super Sunday...

...is going to the theater with K and Jess and our friend, Yumi. We all loved "Billy Elliot." The second act was especially gripping and though I am not one for musicals, I loved it. I enjoyed the music, the dancing and the acting. All around terrific!

For a truly super, fabulous Sunday we followed the theater with a dinner celebrating K's 60th birthday. We ate at Ca Va, a brasserie on West 44th St. and the food was great, as was the atmosphere. We particularly loved the big fireplace. I didn't get pictures of the food, except for this one picture of the birthday dessert that was brought over for K. Too delicious! We also had bread pudding and a great dark chocolate torte.

Dear K! So happy to be part of your wonderful birthday celebration. I cannot think of a happier weekend. I am wishing you many more birthday celebrations and I am wishing myself many more happy times to celebrate with you! Every wish for joy, good health and happiness for many, many years to come.

Super Saturday, Sunday and Monday

This is a big weekend. Museum, theater, dinners and celebrations. It's so big that it goes through Monday and I've even got a vacation day to keep celebrating. I'm celebrating with two of my very favorite people, K and Jess and there's lots of good times and memories happening.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Fifth Avenue, Manhattan 

The Sculpture Court

K and I spent a great evening here last night. We had dinner at the restaurant adjacent to the Sculpture Court. What an amazing treat to eat dinner listening to a wonderful jazz trio, surrounded by Rodin sculpture. We saw a photography exhibit, our favorite Impressionist paintings and had a great walk through the Egyptian collection. 

 I loved seeing the Temple of Dendur against the snowy background of Central Park

Hope you enjoyed our Super Saturday. I'll be back tonight with our own version of Super Sunday. 

My Enchanted Village

Something very strange is happening. As I walked from the subway tonight I found myself enjoying the snow flurries. I wasn't dreaming of warm beaches -- though I'd happily be on a plane to Florida in a second -- I was enchanted with the beauty of the snow. Granted, it was only flurries and the sidewalks were clear. But there was still four inches of icy mush at each corner and there were slippery patches here and there. But I wasn't bothered. I was enjoying walking through the snowy landscape and as I walked my thoughts drifted back to one of my favorite memories of childhood.

This is the memory of trips to Boston with my parents, especially to the Enchanted Village at Jordan Marsh. Jordan Marsh was the department store of Boston and the Enchanted Village was their big Christmas display. The store was sold to Macy's over a decade ago and the Village has gone to another home, but the memory is still so bright for me. The Enchanted Village and its snowy wonders became my dream world of happy times in winter. After our visits I'd spend hours drawing pictures of the Enchanted Village and creating families to live there. As I walked down the street I found myself thinking I was in a beautiful snowy place, almost as sweet as the Enchanted Village.

Is it possible? Have I come to like the snow? I never dreamed it could happen. Never!

 A Moment in My Enchanted Village, 2011

   

I'm Dreaming...

...Of Sunshine and sandy beaches!

The Beach at Sanibel Island

 Key West 

 Key West...Love the foliage!

When I look out the window this morning I see falling snow. It is lovely -- at least until I need to go out to go to work. I've spent a lot of time in the office attending "snow" meetings. Our work is directly affected by the snow and it's become a major part of my day, with generally one lengthy meeting a day discussing issues. There are times my mind drifts away and I realize I am day dreaming of warmer climates.  When you find yourself day dreaming what comes to mind?

Sweet dreams!

A Toast to Madame Mitnick

Looking Towards Times Square, half a block from the theater

For the last fifteen plus years I've had the pleasure of a theater subscription at the Pearl Theater Company. I go with a friend I first met and worked with thirty years ago. The company does classic theater -- rarely anything later than 1950 -- and over the years we have seen just about everything by Ibsen and Strindberg and lots of English Restoration Comedy, with some Shakespeare and Greek tragedy in the mix.  I especially like the comedies and tonight we saw "The Misanthrope" by Moliere. It was very enjoyable and the acting was terrific. 

My memory flashed back to my years of high school French and my heart ached for our French teacher, Madame Mitnick. She had the unenviable task of fostering an appreciation of French literature, especially when presented in rhyming couplets, to easily distracted adolescents. But forty years later her vision was achieved and although in English, I had a wonderful evening with Moliere.  A toast to Madame Mitnick and to all of my teachers throughout the years for all of their efforts. Bravo and merci bien! 

Tea Time

Is there a more charming place for tea on a cold winter's afternoon than

Kings' Carriage House?

I can't think of one for any afternoon! 

My friend, Mary, and I had our annual (post) holiday celebration on Sunday. We enjoy going out after New Years when we most need a treat. This year we chose to do tea. Initially we thought we would go to one of the big hotels. But we did some research and found this lovely restaurant tucked away on a side street on the Upper East Side. I am so glad we did.

We had our tea in the lovely Willow Room. I felt I was at least 3,000 miles away in an English inn.  

The food was delicious. Little sandwiches, scones and yummy pastries. I especially liked the lemon bars. 

The Mandalay Room was upstairs. It would be a beautiful place for a special celebration dinner. The dinner menu looked wonderful. I'd have a difficult time choosing what to order. I was especially taken with the dessert selection. Would you choose the "warm apple crumble with Irish oatmeal crust and Bourbon caramel sauce" or "warm hazelnut plum tart with ginger creme anglaise?" We'd have to order both!

Tri-state bloggers: Wouldn't it be fun to do a blogger tea here in the spring? Of course I'm not limiting a tea to  those of us from NY/NJ/CT. All would be welcome and it would be lovely. 

I've already planned a return visit for brunch with my neighbor. We ran into each other in the grocery this evening and were chatting about getting together one weekend. Luckily I had just the place for us. 

Hope you're keeping warm and cozy!

And the Winner Is...

...Day in the Life of Syb's

Across the Atlantic I will be sending a small assortment of lotion and soap for pampering in this cold, cold winter. I wish I had some for everyone! I used the Random Number Generator. No more cutting up little slips of paper, I've moved up to a much higher technological level.

I heartily encourage all of you to stop by at Sybil's and say hello. When I visit I feel that I am relaxing with a dear friend -- and I am -- even if we've never met in person. Sybil lives outside of Bath, one of the places high on my list of places I must see.  

Congratulations, dear Sybil! I wish I could bring your gift to you in person.