Summer Reading List

In school I would always look forward to my summer reading list.  While some less enthusiastic students would wait until the week before to scramble for the CliffsNotes, I would anxiously await the published list and scoot straight to Barnes & Noble to pile up on required reading.  I would then fill my LL Bean back pack to the brim and head home (30 lb backpack only on one shoulder, of course) and start poolside reading.  Now, I am in a book club and find that ladies all over Manhattan are yearning for a summer reading list.  So I started one up at work that is a mix of old and new and has since gained momentum with friends.  See below for summer 2011 required reading (without the quiz come September).

The Hunger Games Trilogy: I read the series in five days.  Yes, it was a little awkward shopping in the teen drama section of the book store, but so worth it.  Similar to the Twilight saga this sci-fi trilogy is so good you won't be able to put it down.
A Visit from the Goon Squad: Pulitzer winner of 2010, this book was my favorite of the year and is so creative and well written I cannot say enough about it.  Jennifer Egan even included a PowerPoint presentation as one of the final chapters, and got away with it.
This Boy's Life: I know memoirs are not for everyone, but this one reads like a fictional coming of age story and is truly a tale of re-invention and the American Dream.
Room: We just read this for book club and I would not have picked it up on my own because the subject matter is so serious, but it is less a story of kidnapping and captivity and more about the love between a mother and her son.
The Blind Assassin: I put this book on every reading list because it is a complicated and compelling story of two sisters from a family dynasty and one of my all time faves.
The Lotus Eaters: Not well known but a great story about the Vietnam War from a female photo-journalists perspective.  Great beach read: love, war, and a mini History refresher as well.
Freedom: This book was pitted against Goon Squad for the Pulitzer and in my opinion is just as good.  It traces the story of a modern family navigating the Bush years and is just as culturally applicable as it is politically slanted.
Middlesex: Clearly there is a theme here, I love sweeping multi-generational family stories.  If you missed this Pulitzer winner from 2002 you missed out. 
In the Garden of Beasts: I just bought this book today, but I am adding it to the list because I just know its going to be great.  Its a story about Berlin the first year Hitler came into power through the eyes of an American diplomat and his daughter. 

Rooftop Report

Summer in the city always hums with extra energy, all restaurants and bars are crowded even on a Monday night, and Thursdays become the new Fridays.  While the subway commute is hot and sticky in the morning, after 5:00PM the weather is just right for a cocktail, and if you're lucky, that cocktail is being sipped on a rooftop.  I am not sure why outdoor drinking and dining is so hard to come by in NYC, but its scarcity makes it a true gem and I am a self-proclaimed rooftop chaser come summertime. This is why I will be issuing a summer special rooftop report just for you.

Bobo, a restaurant tucked inside a brownstone in the West Village, has a basement entrance concealed by vines and is just the gem I like to go searching for.  You walk downstairs to a quaintly decorated bistro and bar, and if you do not specifically ask, you would never know there is a mini roof deck upstairs for diners and drinkers alike.  The deck is adorned with trellises draped with greenery and feels like you've stepped into an intimate outdoor dinner party.  The menu is french and simple so there are not many options, but the classics are covered.  I always get the Bobo salad with Bibb lettuce, beets, pecans, and chevre.  Its a perfect lunch.  Cheers! 

I Heart Amagansett

Each summer as the humidity rolls in and the New York City sidewalks heat to a melting point, we migrate East along with flocks of other twenty somethings.  The mass exodus of metallic Jack Rogers and Sperry Top-Siders has been happening long before I moved to Manhattan, but the trends remain the same.  West Hampton is reserved for beach volleyball and tanning oil, while the opposite end of the Hamptons is better known for sunhats and SPF 30.  In line with folklore, as the years pass we find ourselves further and further from the city...and closer to the End.

This summer we are in Amagansett, one stop short of the very final stop on the LIRR.  It's a small sliver of Hampton that is surprisingly low key with a tiny town that stretches just one street long on 27.  In place of a Saks and an Intermix, there is a neighborhood bar and a pizza shop.  So far, the highlight has been the Farmers Market near the fire house, even though there is not a farmer in sight and it may or may not be operated by Zabars.  However, I think this is as close to authentic beach town as you get out here! 

Lotus of Siam

I am always looking for new restaurants in the Village (West or Greenwich) because I love walking home after a great meal.  So when I read about the highly acclaimed Lotus of Siam, the new Thai restaurant that opened in the old Cru space, I immediately called for a reservation.  Cru had been a stuffy restaurant with an astronomical wine collection that was a quintessential over-priced dining experience representative of better economic times.  Lotus of Siam proves to be very 2011 in its simple, clean, natural interpretation of the space with accolades for being truly authentic Thai food.  The original Lotus of Siam's based in Las Vegas has been heralded as the best Thai restaurant in North America by critics.  Clearly hopes were high. 

For starters we had the Tuna Koi Soy, tuna tartar mixed with greens and lime juice, and Issan Larb, a salad of beef with green chilis and chopped onion.  For our main dishes we split the traditional Pad Thai, and the Kang Khiao Wan, supposedly one of the most popular curry dishes around Bangkok.  Lastly, we ordered the Amish chicken (for those that say you should never order something as simplistic as chicken while out to eat, I wholeheartedly disagree-it was delicious).  After all was said and done, the beef salad, Pad Thai, and Amish chicken were delectable, but the curry and tuna tartar were just OK.  Although I can safely say the Pad Thai was the best I have ever had, with no hint of greasiness and freshly crumbled peanuts, it came at a lofty price.  Or maybe it just seemed lofty compared to the pretty darn enjoyable Pad Thai at Spice a few blocks over for just 7 dollars.  If you would like to dress up your Pad Thai with a great cocktail in the timeless 24 Fifth building, then go for it.  Otherwise, you can get almost as good for a lot less.

Donkey of the Week

The Donkey of the Week is U.S. Rep Anthony Weiner for living up to his given name in the unfolding of Weinergate initiated by Weiner tweeting his...weiner.  In one of my personal favorite clips, he details the now infamous Twitter photos as a master-mind conspiracy theory from a successful hacker, chalking up the incident to 'what life is like within social media in our world today in 2011'.  Yes, this is just pesky 'ole social media at its best, hackers and disturbing underwear shots from a deserted gym.  That's what Twitter means to me anyway- well said Weiner.  And the good news is, he assures the public he will be returning to Twitter when all is said and done, because 'it helps him do his job', which we later found out is courting random college students, single mothers, and porn stars with crotch shots.  All in a days work in the House of Representatives!

Zumba!

I am always willing to try any sort of group fitness regimen because I love being chatty while doing my exercise.  So, when I heard about Zumba, a new crowd favorite for moms in the Midwest, I figured I should give it a try.  I am neither a mom nor a Midwesterner, but something about Latin dance for exercise sounded super fun.  So I convinced my fluent Spanish speaking besty who loves all things Latin to come along for the ride.  We waltzed into the Equinox feeling confident and ready to show our best moves.  Class began like this:  The instructor walked over to the iPod, turned it on, and without a word she along with the rest of the class began dancing in unison to intensely choreographed moves.  Clearly we were the only two in class who had not done our homework.  While everyone segued seamlessly from Samba to Indian dance into Merengue, we stumbled behind them like bumbling idiots.  I was convinced I twisted a knee during a very quick one-two step, while my equally disabled dance partner had to take a break mid Zumba for a towel and water while the grandmother in the front row shook her hips like Shakira.  So, lesson learned:  Zumba requires actual dance skills for maximum participation, otherwise you may end up hurting yourself.  Other than being shamed by older more able women, we had a great time, broke a sweat five minutes into the hour class, and I might dare say learned some dance moves we could use outside just a fitness studio.  All in all a big success, but I will be practicing with the do-it-yourself DVDs before I try and tango with the professionals again.

Four Seasons Birthday

The Four Seasons Restaurant is an iconic New York City restaurant in midtown.  The dress code is jackets required and the ambiance is classic elegance.  It is not the least bit trendy which is why its been serving its signature Grand Marnier souffle since 1959.  Sometimes its nice to get all gussied up just for dinner.  That is why its a great place to celebrate milestones, like a birthday.  Celebrations come complete with their very own gourmet cotton candy tower.  Happy Birthday to me!

Accidental Drinks at the Met

 

The Alexander McQueen Costume Institute Exhibit at the Met has garnered a lot of attention for being a unique showcase of fashion that pushes the boundaries into art.  The galleries display the many dichotomies McQueen explored between culture, politics, and history to serve up oftentimes controversial runway shows.  Or at least that's what the critics are saying.  I wouldn't know because I never made it beyond the velvet ropes.  I suited up and donned my favorite Alexander McQueen scarf to see the exhibit this past weekend, only to be out a twenty dollar cab ride and stuck in an hour and a half line.  Apparently my nice little Saturday was not so unique. 

The afternoon was not totally lost though.  We went to the Met's Rooftop Garden instead.  Not as controversial or envelope pushing as a glimpse inside the late Alexander McQueen's mind, but pretty darn enjoyable.  The cafe has a lovely view of the city and boasts sculptures amid benches where you can sit with a glass of wine or a Corona.  If you happen to be lucky enough to make it inside the Savage Beauty exhibit, let me know how it is.  Otherwise, I'll meet you for a cocktail on the roof!

Save the Date - Judgment Day is Today!

According to Harold Camping, president of Family Radio and certified Christian crazy person, the world is ending today.  In fact, 'The Bible guarantees it'.  Harold's followers have quit their jobs and devoted their lives full time to explaining to the naive unassuming public that we will all be swept up in a rapture on May 21st, 2011.  What this means I do not know, but it apparently involves some of us going to heaven and others being caught up in a tricky one-two punch of a tsunami and an earthquake.  While some are selling their houses and arranging pet sitters for their cats and dogs that Harold has assured will be left behind, I decided to have a great NYC day in honor of Judgment Day.  What would you do on your last day in New York?!  Here is my itinerary:

2:00PM - Metropolitan Museum of Art

3:00PM - Had a goat cheese salad (my fave) and an afternoon cocktail on the terrace at Serafina uptown

4:00PM - Shopped at Hermes, who needs money anyway, the world is ending!

8:00PM - Dinner at Babbo for Rigatoni Bolognese (they probs don't have meat sauce in heaven)

Thankfully, kind souls have sprung up all around the U.S.of A. to offer pet care for those of us that will not make it.  By the way you have to pay in full in advance of the world ending.  Non-refundable.

Locanda Verde

I approached Thursday night date night at Locanda Verde with skepticism, Robert DeNiro, a restaurateur?  Turns out this Goodfella also co-owns NYC's Nobu so I was clearly out of touch and proven oh so wrong by the amazing food that awaited me. The chef, Andrew Camellini was the head chef at Cafe Boulud, but exchanged the jacket required ambiance for a true neighborhood taverna that was both outstanding and affordable.  The restaurant itself is large to the point of cavernous, but was so jam packed that it felt just as cozy as a ten table cafe in the West Village.  We asked the waitress to bring us the most popular appetizers, main course, and dessert.  We ended up with sheep's milk ricotta crostini, lamb meatball sliders, gigantone with Sunday night ragu, and a pear crisp.  Each course was delectably delicious.  The lamb meatball sliders were topped with miniature pickles and homemade sauce that put ketchup to shame, and rank as the best sliders I have ever had.  Skipping dessert was not an option here with famed pastry chef Karen deMasco from Craft, and the pear crisp could have stood alone as a showstopper.  There is nothing better than a hyped restaurant that actually deserves the accolades and attention.  Pictures of my meatball sliders below.  Shania Twain was at the next table and thought I was taking pictures of her, but the real celebrity at Locanda that night was this meatball slider!