Rules of Engagement

As a new fiancé, naturally I am now the expert on the perfect proposal.  If you are expecting (or hoping for) an engagement in the imminent future, you may want to check out these top 5 rules for him and for her:

For the Bride-to-Be (the Proposee):

1. Do shower and look pretty. When your man-love tells you to pack an overnight bag, definitely shower and freshen up before venturing to the undisclosed spot.  Even if he tells you that you look fine, do not listen!  Take your own advice (and mine) and get a shower before you go to the surprise location.  Of course your man loves you no matter how you look (duh! he's about to propose!), but you will feel better and prettier if you smell and look your best :)

2. Do not try to guess surprises.  Even if you suspect an engagement is upon you, do not try to anticipate every move. Allow me to illustrate.  On Saturday, after Fiance-Matt (ahh!) told me that we were going away for the night to an undisclosed destination, we hopped in a cab.  At this point I had an inkling of what was going to happen. I thought I heard the cab driver say to Matt, "Are you going to where Tim Tebow is?  You look like him."  My heart both dropped and skipped a beat:  suddenly I thought we were not going to get engaged, but rather Matt was surprising me by taking me to meet Tim Tebow, which would be both terribly disappointing (no proposal) and also a little exciting (meet Timmy Teebs!).  Or, maybe we'd have the best of both worlds and we would meet Tim Tebow and then get engaged! Or maybe Tim Tebow would deliver the ring to me? My mind was racing, and so was my mouth.  I asked Matt, "Are we going to meet Tim Tebow???" over and over again, ignoring his denials.  It turns out the cabbie actually said, "Do you know who Tim Tebow is?" not "Are you going to where Tim Tebow is?" Leave it alone. Tim Tebow is not involved in your engagement.

3. Do say "yes" (not "of course"). Self-explanatory :)

4. Do pack toothpaste. You do not want your first kiss as an engaged lady to be breathy.  You may not know your engagement is upon you, so always travel with a mini toothpaste.

5. Do not forget to call any of your close friends or family members before posting a public announcement to Facebook, Twitter, etc.

For the Husband-to-Be (the Proposer):

1. Do wake your woman up the morning of the proposal with the best snuggles ever and extra loving kisses.  It will prime her for the day of love ahead, and believe me she will notice (I did).

2. Do propose in a way that is unique to your lady.  For example, if you know your wifey-to-be loves coffee and fire, find a way to incorporate fireplaces and coffee  :).

3. Do come up with an adorable nickname for your new fiancé (i.e., Fiance-la-vie :)

4. Do tell all strangers you encounter that you just got engaged. Even if they don't care.  Your woman will love that you want all the world to know.

5. Do enjoy it. Even if things don't go exactly as planned, just know it doesn't matter. It is perfect anyway.  She now has you... FOREVER!

For both him and her: Do savor the moment. It will hopefully only happen once, and you will want to have soaked every ounce of joy from it.

Wine School?!

Who knew such a thing existed!?  While in Philly for Mother's Day, Meg and I drove past this gem, The Wine School of Philadelphia.  They offer wine tastings, academic courses (I'd be a straight-A student in this subject!), and private events.  Does NYC have such a thing, you ask? Heck yes! This is the concrete jungle where dreams are made of, even your alcohol-induced dreams.

New York Wine Schools:

1. International Wine Center - Wine & spirit classes. 7th Ave and 29th Street.
2. NYC Wine Class - Wine classes held at NYC Wine Company. Gift certificates for classes available. 7th Ave and 23rd Street.
3.  American Somelier - Formal structured programs, including an 8-week Foundation Course and 16-week Blind Tasting Course. Seminars such as "Impress Your Boss, Save Your Expense Account" and "Age: Ain't Nothing but a Number."  Broadway between Houston and Prince Streets.

All this wine talk reminds me of the trip to Napa Valley Boyfriend-Matt and I took April of 2010...

We drove to the farthest reaches of Napa to visit the home of my favorite wine, Twomey. But....

...it was CLOSED FOR INVENTORY!! Blast!

So we made our way to the beautiful Rubicon Estate, one of Francis Ford Coppola's wineries.

Matt in the vines of the valley :)

A treasure at the Rubicon Estate.

Beautious Napa.

Have or would you take a formal wine class?  What wineries have you been to? Recommendations wanted!  


P.S. - Did you know our very own Long Island is home to many wineries? More on that to come...

That awkward bus ride

Cool metro-card covered bicycle wheel (has nothing to do with post - do not be fooled).

The shuttle to work yesterday morn (yes, my friends, though I live just a few blocks from work, I usually take the complimentary shuttle offered by my apartment complex  - supes laze, I know) was particularly crowded, most likely due to the narsty weather, which by the way, had me feeling seasonally depressed for about a minute.  I for one had a seat in the front row, next to the aisle (wooop for waking up early, birtches!). As more and more people crowded into the shuttle, seats ran out, and we had some standers (we're talking "can't sit heeeyah" Forest Gump-degree lack of seat availability).  I observed carefully the reactions as each passenger stepped up into the shuttle bus and realized how crowded it was.  It reminded me of when your'e at the airport and the security lines are particularly long but fresh line-waiters don't realize it until they are just up to the line and they all have the same amazed reaction.  "The line starts back there?" Yes, peeps, it does.  Anyway, without fail, each passenger mumbled something under their breath (i.e., "gahh this is ridiculous" or "man, people need to make room") when they saw that there was plenty of standing space toward the back of the bus.  Needless to say none of them actually asked anyone to make room, they just passive aggressively mumbled to themselves which I happened to have the good fortune of hearing in my front row seat.

Anywho, the last unfortunate, yet very dapper-looking gent to enter the bus was particularly unnerved by the scenario.  He too mumbled, though a bit louder, and kept shimmying in closer as if to silently bully people into stepping further back in the aisle. He kept bobbing his head around to see exactly how much space people were wasting.  Then he tried making eye contact with me as if to look for moral support.  Don't look at me, fella! I got my booty down to that shuttle on time!  To top it off and make matters more awkward, he held his iPhone up, which at first just looked like he was texting, then FLASH! The camera flash went off. The Buster was taking a picture! Don't get me wrong, I have definitely tried to sneak photos of odd situations in public with the very fear that my flash would go off.  However, I take the necessary precautions to ensure nobody knows I am actually sneaking photos.  This poor fella was not only squished in the front of the shuttle bus, but now he was also caught taking odd pictures of his bus-mates.  He quickly put his phone to his side and tried to cover it up.  May it be a lesson to us all: if you're going to take pictures of people in public while trying to cover it by looking like you're texting, turn off the flash people!

Have you had any awkward public transportation moments? Have you gotten caught taking pics of people/situations in public and tried to cover it up? I'd love to hear your stories :)

PS - Soon to come, the do's and don'ts of awkward elevator rides!  

The B List: One More Broadway Show

On Wednesday night I finally crossed #20 off of my New York Bucket List: I saw one more Broadway show, War Horse, in Lincoln Center.  This was not your typical Broadway show with cheery, pink-cheeked theatrical types romping around the stage belting out hearty show tunes.  Quite the opposite. The staging and set were simple, with minimal props that were often held in place by silent cast members (i.e., fence posts were held side by side by actors hidden in shadows).  The music was mostly solemn Irish (I think) folk tunes sung by a peasant-like "song woman" who appeared in various places throughout the theater.  At one point, she even popped up near our seats in the upper levels.  Brown and grey were the hues of the show, conveying the sadness of war and the poverty of the main characters.  

Photo credit: www.warhorseonbroadway.com

Though all of the above are not my cup of tea (I am more of a flashy B'way show girl, preferring Legally Blonde and the like :), I understood why most of the elements of the show were simple: to draw the audience's attention to the phenomenal heart of the production  -- the puppeteering. When the main horse, Joey, first graced the stage, he was essentially walked on by 3 puppeteers who controlled his movements.  At first this was a bit distracting, but after just a few minutes, I completely forgot that humans were with the horse-puppet (made of metal and fabric) every step of the way.  The incredibly real way in which the puppeteers moved the horse, from minute ear twitches to the contractions of its ribs at varying speeds to create the appearance of breathing, was amazing.  When Joey grew into an adult horse, the puppeteers no longer moved side-by-side with him, but rather were now underneath of the horse.  At this point I became more intrigued not by the horse's movements, but rather the puppeteers movements.  I watched their feet and legs (as these were the only visible body parts -- the rest was covered by the horse-puppet body) move almost like those of a ballet dancer: graceful, intentional and strong. They were the true stars of the show.

Though the show was amazing, it was a bit long, and my favorite parts of the evening were dinner before at Indie Food and Wine and hanging out in Lincoln Center afterward.  This was my second time in two weeks at Indie Food and Wine, and I love it! It's located in the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center of Linocln Center, just a staircase away from the theater where War Horse played. Indie is small and cozy, adding to its charm.  Their cheese plates and wine are delicious (I'm making myself hungry and thirsty!).  They offer gourmet sandwiches which add flavorful ingredients in unique combinations.  We topped off the yummy meal with scrumptious bread-pudding (recommended by our server).  

After the show, we lingered in Lincoln Center, taking in the creative energy. All in all, a beautiful evening :)

Beautiful view from inside the theater. My fave. 

My love and I.

ABT - next on the list :)

Cool light fixture. Couple of canoodlers. 

Love.

Sparkly forest.

Friends :) 

Yours truly. 

That's all for now, loves! Enjoy the weekend!

How happy are you?

On a scale of 1 - 10, how happy are you, and what percent of the time?  My Mom shared a thought with me years ago that some people think it's ideal to be a 7 to 10 on the happy scale (i.e., content, peaceful, joyous, etc.) 90% of the time.  Whether it's in your daily routine, a relationship, your career, or living situation, try being aware of where you fall on that scale. You might find the results interesting, even if you don't quite buy the philosophy. A couple years ago when I was questioning how much I liked my job, I started jotting down throughout the day my "level of happy" and my reason for feeling that way.  I thought I hated my job, but when I looked back at my notes and saw I noted most of the time that I was actually quite content (enjoying coffee at my desk while working independently), I was surprised.

I challenge you to try it, unless you already know... How happy are you?  Do you have any thoughts on the scale idea?  

Have a great day, everyone!

Happy Mother's Day Eve!

On this, the eve of the day of honoring our Mothers, I am making my way down to Philadelphia to spend the day with my very own.  As I sit on the train, rolling out of New York, I can breathe a little deeper and see a lot more sky.  Gazing at the sunny blue air and the marshmallow clouds, I think of how awesome my Momma is, recall some of my favorite memories of her, and reflect on how parts of me are so obviously directly from her.  

My Mom is one of a kind.  She is more adventurous than I will ever be.  Whenever she tells me of one of her weekend adventures from dogsledding to tree-climbing, and helicopter flying lessons to horseback riding, I am reminded of how brave and inspiring she is.  Not only is she adventurous, but she brings people together in a way I haven't seen anyone else do.  Whether it's Easter, Thanksgiving, a Puppy Party or her Birthday/Christmas shindig, Mom has the magnetic ability to attract loves ones, old friends and newbies alike to one place to join in laughter, banter, food and drink, and overall merriment.  She is a connector of people, always making others feel comfortable, happy and loved.

  

Though those are a few of things that I admire about Mom, what I cherish most are my favorite memories with her.  One of my earliest recollections of feeling very close with Mom is how we used to stare at each other and mimick each other's vocal sounds.   It sounds weird, but I remember it being really fun trying to guess what sound she was going to make next and trying to imitate it at the exact same time.  Nap-time after kindergarten was also a favorite.  Everyday when I got off the bus, Mom would give me some yummy lunch (I was in the morning session) and then we would lay in her bed for a nap.  Before falling asleep, I would ask her to tell me stories of her old boyfriends. I have no idea why I cared specifically about hearing about boyfriends at that young age, but I remember being entranced and intrigued by hearing about Mom's young loves.  I'd fall asleep to her stories while sniffing the shampooey smell of her pillow, and without fail, every time I woke up she wouldn't be in the bed anymore. I always got a little scared at first, but then I'd go downstairs and would find her energetically multi-tasking: doing some combination of cleaning, chatting on the phone with friends, folding laundry, drinking coffee, and watching "General Hospital."  

Some other fun snippets I vividly recall from those earlier years include Mom propping up one end of the coffee table on the couch to make a slide for me and Meg, my sister.  I remember being so surprised the first time she did this... I didn't know Mom could be so much fun!  She even upped the ante by teaching us how to slide down the stairs sitting in a pillow case... Such a blast :)  "Make-up table" was another fun game Mom would play with me and Meg.  This involved her laying down on the ground, and putting out all her makeup for me and Meg to put on her and make her beautiful (I sure wish we had some photos to document our handiwork :))  We later found out that Mom actually really enjoyed this time because we were easily occupied and she could catch some z's while we sat nearby. 

As I grew older, my mom also became my advocate of socialization, learning and growth.  When we moved from Blackwood, New Jersey to Marlton, Mom made sure that Meg and I would be happy and make friends, so she researched every dance studio in the area.  When she found one she thought we would like, she signed us up and drove us up to 4 times a week back and forth from dance after school.  She was at every dance recital, and every football game we cheered at.  Actually, I can fully credit Mom with the fact that I stuck with cheerleading from elementary to high school.  Mom had just signed me up for the Rec Council cheer team in Marlton, and the first day of practice was upon us.  As we pulled up to the parking lot of the Middle School where practice was being held, I saw all the girls on the team in the distance chatting and having fun and practicing their cartwheels and splits.  I got cold feet and told Mom I didn't want to do it anymore (I may have said I had a stomach ache.. not exactly sure what excuse I used).  This was one of the first times Mom pushed me to do something (in a good way).  I don't remember what she said, but I remember it being strong enough that I got my little butt out of the car and marched over to the field.  She knew what she was doing -- I loved it from that day on.

But naturally, Mom didn't just focus her efforts on the extracurriculars.  She wanted us to be smart! One summer during middle school, she assigned Meg and I a project. She told us each the name of an artist and made us do research and write a report that would be due at the end of the summer.  At first I was super mad...how could she give us summer homework! Then, surprisingly, I got into it and actually enjoyed it.  Mom didn't only directly guide our educational experiences, but indirectly as well.  Mom went to Community College and then to Drexel University when I was young, so I'd always see her studying.  I'd even pick up her finance and accounting books from time to time just to read them and see if I understood what the heck they were about (no such luck, but obviously this influenced my future career choice :).  

When college application time came around, Mom didn't hold back.  After I applied to Princeton, Emory, and University of Florida, my last application to fill out was for UNC Chapel Hill.  I had lost essay-writing steam by that point, and quite frankly, didn't really care to fill out another application.  Apparently it showed.  I remember giving my mom my draft essay to read, and even though I knew it wasn't my best work, I certainly didn't expect her response after reading. "Jenny, even my dog could write better than this!" What?! My own mother would say such a thing?!  I have never let Mom live this one down, and she'll still say it to me from time to time in jest :) 

After college when I moved to NYC, Mom was a bigger support than ever.  I felt  a bit lonely the first few months, and Mom would always call me to talk and help me figure out what I should do for the weekends, which were the hardest times since I was single in a new city. On one occasion, she came up to visit me in Manhattan on a Friday night during busy season. Since I was working until 9, she waited for me at a restaurant/bar on the Upper East Side.  I felt badly making her wait, but little did I know she was making loads of friends.  When I got off of work to meet her, I walked into the bar and was greeted by loud cheers of my name by almost everyone in the place..."JENNY!!!!"!  She had made fast friends, and had food and drink already waiting for me :) (Mom then proceeded to try to set me up with the Italian bartender, but we won't get into that story).

Although thinking about these experiences always make me smile and think of my Mom, sometimes all I have to do is look in the mirror to see her.  So much of me is directly from Mom.  She has given me my love of cozy and snuggles.  My need to cook with loads of garlic. My love of coffee.  The way I wiggle my feet against my blankets at night just before falling asleep to ensure I'm as nestled as possible.  My accounting skills. My need to sniff things. 

I love you, Mom! Happy Mother's Day!!

What are your favorite memories of your mother? What traits or habits do you have that she passed down to you?

Hakkasan NYC

Close your eyes.  Drum up the tune of "True" by Spandeau Ballet in your mind.  Do you hear it?  Good. Now drop a techno beat on it  (sounds a little more like this, but without words).  Got it? Ok - now you're ready.

You inhale the spicy smoke of burning incense as you walk (slow motion, runway style) through a long, narrow corridor of sleek white marble, lit only by candles and a blue glow descending from the upscale Chinese dining heavens.  

Photo credit: pstandsfor.blogspot.com

At the end of the corridor you exchange knowing smiles with beautiful hosts who escort you to the bar area (fortunately, your table is not yet ready) which is filled with even more beautiful people. The volume of the music increases 10-fold.  But no matter. You are no longer in a bar or restaurant. You are transported.  You didn't really come here to eat, did you? No, no, silly you. You came to experience the sexy dining nightclub that is Hakkasan NYC. Sparkly dresses and smiles wink at you from all directions. Shiny locks of perfectly coiffed (and perhaps falsely extended) hair waft the warm, pheremone-filled breeze in your direction (still in slow motion, of course).  Clean-smelling men with crisp collars, appropriately oiled hair, and designer glasses glance in your direction as you make your way through the crowd to the bar. But only for a fleeting moment.  They can't appear too interested. They are just scoping the scene like you.  

Photo credit: 

You order your Classic Bellini (or if you are a man, the Long Dragon, naturally) from the chic bartender with the puffy bang.

Photo credit: New York Times (though this was actually our bartender as well).

A few sips and $40 later, your ever attentive (male model) host comes to whisk you and your cocktails away to your table for two seated across from a semi-celebrity who you are hardly recognize because she is enjoying herself so naturally and unselfconsciously in the restaurant where you, too, are dining just a month after its grand opening. Yes, you move in the food circles of such celebrities.  You savor your surroundings of beautiful people and famous friends when... "JENNY! Jenny!?  Are you ready to order??" 

Blast! I am awakened and interrupted from my living fantasy by Boyfriend Matt.  That's okay -- the reality is actually quite nice :) (see stud below).

Boyfriend Matt. Long Dragon. Peach Bellini.

Hot setting.

Such was my state of atmospheric euphoria Saturday night when Matt and I dined at Hakkasan NYC, New York's latest upscale Chinese cuisine establishment.  Preceded by locations in London, Miami, Dubai and Mumbai, Hakkasan has finally made its way to Hell's Kitchen (8th Ave. between 43rd and 44th Streets) a little over one month ago.  It is set in an unlikely but lucky location -- just a few steps from icky Times Square and ironically around the bend from Shake Shack, yet very fortunately just a few blocks from my apartment. 

Unsuspecting exterior of Hakkasan. View from south side of 43rd Street. 

I would say, "to make a long story short," but I've already made this story a bit long for the sake of incorporating music-induced visualization into my post.  Now I'll cut to the chase. The point is, Hakkasan NYC was wonderful.  Why?

THE FOOD & DRINK

AH-mazing.  We shared everything ordered, which was the intention of the restaurant according to our server Jake (who let me affectionately refer to him as Jakey... see more below on the great service).  To start we ordered Hakka steamed dim sum platter (prawn and chinese chive dumpling, black pepper duck dumpling, har gau, scallop shumai) and crispy duck rolls.  I loved all the dumplings in the dim sum except for one of them (though I can't remember which), and I was not a crazy fan of the duck rolls.  

Hakka steamed dim sum, and crispy duck rolls.

The entree: Grilled chilean sea bass with Chinese honey, with a side of some rice (I forget what kind). The sea bass was fantastic: smooth and buttery, perfectly prepared.  Also according to our server, Chinese honey is more potent and rich than the clover honey to which we're accustomed.  I couldn't really tell a difference.  All my stomach could discern was awesomeness.  We could have done without the rice. The flavor wasn't notable, and most of it went to waste.

Remnants of the devoured sea bass.

Side of forgettable rice.  

The grand finale: Assorted macaroons for desert, paired with the warm and creamy Tuscan Coffee desert cocktail.  Sadly we didn't take a photo of the macarons because we were too busy inhaling them.  I would have liked the server to identify the flavors because they were a bit hard to decipher apart from one which was definitely some sort of white chocolate.  Either way, delicious.

My adult coffee beverage.

THE SERVICE

Surprisingly great.  Jake was our server. He was fantastic, which I hadn't expected because I had read several reviews that the service was lacking. Jakey tolerated my questions about the difference between Chinese honey and regular honey, and he even humored me with a response when I asked why some female servers were wearing red dresses while others were wearing black.  I was sure it had something to do with the status of guests they were serving, but not according to Jake.  Apparently there was no real reason other than to just mix it up a bit.

The hosts were also extremely attentive.  After I came out of the restroom and began making my way back to our table, one of the hosts' ran after me, and asked me if I needed help finding my way to the table.  Royal treatment!  The bartender was great.  Though a bit slow, she was very personable and laughed with us when she accidentally broke the lemon rind garnish for Matt's Long Dragon drink.  All in all, terrific service.

THE ATMOSPHERE 


You've already spent enough time visualizing the atmosphere.  Needless to say it's sleek and sexy, though a little loud.  If the bar and dining area feel like a nightclub, the restroom certainly feels like a spa (the picture below doesn't capture it fully) with candles burning on the ground, dark slate walls, and heavy wooden doors.

Spa-like restroom.  I would have liked to hang out here a bit longer.

THE PRICE TAG  (the least amazing part)

Matt guessed the bill would be $150.  I guessed $225.  The actual bill was somewhere in the middle.  Though this is definitely more than we spend on a typical dinner out, it was not terrible considering we each had more than one cocktail, and we ordered desert.  Plus, I got my fair share of people watching in, so it was worthy of the price.   There were a few select menu items, however, that were out of our price range.... 

Yes you are seeing correctly. $888.  

THE LAST WORD

Overall, Hakkasan definitely lived up to my expectation of being a fun night out on the town without having to travel far from home.  I highly recommend it if you're not looking for a quiet dinner, but more for a place to people watch and enjoy the sleek club-like atmosphere. 

Enjoying life  :)

Sunny Sunday

Today was B-E-A-Utiful in the City.  Boyfriend Matt and I had a picnic on the 44th Street pier. Hope you all had a marvelous weekend and are refreshed and ready for the week :) xoxo.

lovey doves

nap

crawling the greens

thinking deep things

bug's view

fun photo shoot :)

work it, work it

this is his signature pose -- the "X". He can also do it laying on his back.