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half-pound cookies!

February 28, 2020

citycake cookie closeup

Trips to New York City always include some great eating stops – there are so many to choose from!

One great dessert place to visit is Citycakes.   The unassuming storefront of this bakery is easy to miss – it is located on the basement level of 251 West 18th Street in Manhattan.

citycakes storefront

Because it is only a few blocks from the High Line, Citycakes is a fun stop after an invigorating High Line walk!  The menu here includes cakes and cupcakes, but for my daughter and I, the true hero of the shop is the signature line of cookies – weighing in at half a pound each!

Here is my pick this trip:

citycakes nyc cookie closeup

citycakes cookie flavor

Though this shop may not have the finesse of a New York City bakery like a Dominique Ansel Bakery, there is definitely something to be said for a huge, delicious cookie!

As a Food Network junkie, I have seen Chef Benny Rivera from Citycakes compete on many different programs – making the shop all that much more attractive to me!

citycakes cookies

If in the neighborhood while in Manhattan, it is worth a stop to pick up some cookies!  They are definitely a fun gift to bring home to someone!

(For comparison – one cookie is half a pound or 8 oz. – an entire box of Girl Scout Toffee-tastic cookies is under 7 oz. and cost $6.  I used a Girl Scout cookie to compare because everyone knows it!  Of course, a boxed cookie is not freshly baked!)

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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the vessel nyc

February 21, 2020

the vessel sky

It has been almost a year since the official opening of the Hudson Yards Redevelopment Project in Manhattan, New York City.

What fascinates me most about the area is the soaring new landmark built as part of the project that is the extraordinary centerpiece of Hudson Yards.  I am talking about the Vessel.

The Vessel NYC

An interactive artwork that is meant to be climbed, the work was designed by architect Thomas Heatherwick.  Comprised of 154 intricately interconnecting flights of stairs made up of almost 2,500 individual steps and 80 landings, it is a spiral staircase that offers climbers a way to see some remarkable views of the city, the river, and beyond by witnessing perspectives of the city from different heights, angles, and vantage points.

looking up at the vessel

Anyone willing to climb can do so for free by obtaining a same-day ticket.  All time-specific tickets are offered without charge on a first-come, first served basis.

side view of the vessel

Last time in New York City, I was hoping to climb the Vessel, but no tickets were available!  As time goes on, I am sure the free tickets will only get harder and harder to achieve with milder weather arriving to the city soon!

cool view of The Vessel

Here I am offering some views of the Vessel from the ground level.  I will continue to try to score a ticket on any visit I make into Manhattan – hoping I can soon make the climb!

the vessel 3

Thanks for stopping by!

The Vessel 2

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

P.S.  I think this coming Thursday’s episode of Project Runway was filmed at the Vessel – check it out!

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junior high dreams

February 18, 2020

two together

I loved junior high school art classes.  I took every one offered.  One class that was a huge disappointment to me was pottery.  Because there was only one potter’s wheel in the school, not everyone in the class was able to get the chance to use it – and, my hands never touched that wheel!

bottomwithout glaze

With this pot, I left the bottom unglazed.

It has been a long, long time since junior high school, and I still regret never having the opportunity to try the potter’s wheel!  When I recently found out about a four-session workshop that introduced its students to the potter’s wheel, I jumped at the chance to finally try out the wheel!  I did not expect 10 hours to offer much in the way of instruction, but I was pleasantly surprised!

before and after firing

Before and after firing. Glazing is an art in itself!

 

Why are there four photos of this little pot?  It is a very special little pot – the very first pot I ever made on the wheel!

two glazed

Not only did I learn the basics of the potter’s wheel in the short time offered, but I was also able to create four pots – from lumps of clay to completed, glazed, and fired pieces!

pot with raspberry

So exciting!  So fun!

threepots stacked

I am sharing with you today, photos of my pieces!

all my pots

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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valentine’s day 2020

February 14, 2020

VDay

This is the first Valentine’s Day in decades (wow…that sounds crazy!) that I have been single.  As you can probably tell by the way I started this post, I decided to focus on myself this year.  I decided to make Valentine’s Day all about falling in love with taking care of myself and to avoid all the hype of the day that is going on around me.  So far, it is working out pretty well!

hearts on the high line

As a gift to you, I would like to share some sightings that seem appropriate for the day from a recent stroll down the High Line in NYC with one of my favorite galentines.  Enjoy…

love

high line art

amor

art on the high line

Enjoy your weekend!  Be good to yourself.

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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larios on the beach

February 11, 2020

instrument decor

My favorite restaurant stop while in South Beach was to one owned by a famous person from the music industry – Gloria Estefan.

Larios

Gloria and Emilio Estefan have been promoting their Cuban Heritage through their restaurants as well as through their music since they opened Larios on the Beach in 1992 in the heart of South Beach.

Gloria portrait

The restaurant offers guests the opportunity to dine on authentic Cuban cuisine served in an atmosphere that celebrates the spirit of Cuba in its heyday while enjoying the view of famous Ocean Drive.

instrument decor

The instruments that make up this unusual wall hanging include those used by the Miami Sound Machine.

Gloria grew up in the kitchen with her grandmother and developed a love of cooking.  Gloria and Emilio opened Larios on the Beach, in honor of both Gloria’s grandmother and their beloved Cuban Heritage.

restaurant decor

Larios on the beach became their flagship restaurant as they expanded the vision by opening Bongos Cuban Cafe in Orlando, in Florida’s Downtown Disney in 1996 then Bongos Cuban Cafe at The American Airlines Arena in Miami,  Bongos Cuban Cafe at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, FL and Bongos Cuban Cafe at Miami International Airport.

Gloria's husband

A fun photograph of Emilio adorns the wall in the dining area at Larios on the Beach.

Estefan Hospitality also grew with the addition of the historic Cardozo Hotel on 1300 Ocean Drive in 1993 and in 2006 Costa D’Este, an award winning 4-Diamond property in Vero Beach.   It was named one of the top ten celebrity owned hotels in the world and is in Travel and Leisure’s top 100 list.  Its cozy oceanside restaurant, The Wave, was voted Diner’s Choice Winner Best Overall, Best Ambiance and Best Food on OpenTable.

tree wall decor

scallop wall decor

Gloria herself developed the crest that represents the brand.  Inspired by the Cuban Crest, it has the sun representing the Gloria Estefan Foundation, which has already donated millions of dollars to many diverse causes, a dolphin and a flamingo both Florida treasures, an American and Cuban flag laying side by side representing their dual patriotic nature and the Bongo man, logo for the Bongos Franchise.

logo on wine

The crest is surrounded by the Hibiscus and the Palm, native to both Florida and Cuba and is crowned with a pineapple, the symbol that sits high atop both Bongos Cuban Cafe Miami and Orlando.  The ribbon under the pineapple reads “to serve mankind”, which is something Emilio and Gloria love to do and was chosen by Gloria both for that reason and as an inside joke that they dare anyone to guess. Winner gets a free drink!

logo on chair

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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cruisin’ ocean drive

February 7, 2020

the orb

My favorite hotel along Miami’s famed Ocean Drive is The Betsy – a chic hotel with a rooftop pool…if I were to plan a future trip to Miami, this would definitely be my hotel of choice.

Walking along ‘the drive,’ there are a couple of super cool features outdoors at The Betsy to check out.

The Orb 6

My favorite is an orb-shaped sky bridge, considered a groundbreaking piece of Miami public art.  I was so fascinated with this structure!

The Orb 5

The other unique feature is a sculptural Poetry Rail honoring local wordsmiths – from Langston Hughes to Muhammad Ali.

Poetry Rail 1

Poetry Rail 3

Cool, right?  And you haven’t even seen the inside of the hotel!

Poetry Rail sign

Poetry Rail 5

I hope you enjoyed sharing a couple of the interesting features of The Betsy Hotel on Ocean Drive in Miami!  Can’t wait to share my favorite restaurant!

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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