A Tribute to Moms

I pulled a book off of the bookshelf to use as a writing surface and until that moment had not realized that we even owned this particular book. It was The New Yorker Magazine 75th Anniversary Cartoon Collections. I spent a good hour paging through the cartoons, laughing out loud. When I came across this one, I had to snap a pic for Evy, Pat and Lydia. Cheers!

Shit bitch you is fine

Once again, this super romantic couple was sick on Valentine's Day. No kissy kissy smoochie smoochie. Just a TON of Russell Stovers from my students and two mid week sick days. I do wish I got a teddy bear holding a red plush heart, though. Not just any teddy bear. I want a gigantic shit bitch bear.
See below:

God Bless the Lower East Side. Shit Bitch Bears are displayed on Clinton Street, nestled between some fancy bottled hibiscus water store and a spanish dry cleaners.


P.S. Zach, I don't think your love is lame. I'm quite fond of it :)

Harriet

This is Harriet. She is the squishiest, snuggliest ball of fur that ever waddled this earth. I love her and that is all this post is about. Cat love.   

Avon Walk

Thanks you to everyone who donated to my Avon Walk! 

The walk took place this past weekend and was a phenomenal event. 

The opening ceremony was held on pier 84 at 44th street on Saturday morning. It was cold, windy, and offensively early for a weekend morning. But somewhere between the 12 year old speaker who raised $20,000 in memory of her mom, and finding out that the NYC Avon Walk raised 8.4 million dollars, the hour, the temperature and daunting task ahead of us became very trivial details. 8.4 million dollars. That's a shit load of money.

Joey, Melissa, Me & Martha @ the Opening Ceremony

I walked with my two of my best friends, Joey and Melissa. Melissa's mom, Martha, was our inspiration for participating in the walk. She came to NYC to cheer us on and support us throughout the big weekend. Over the 40 miles that we walked, we had tons of visitors, lots of laughs, a few blisters, a couple cranky meltdowns, but mostly great conversation.

Diana and Martha, our first visitors, met us in Chelsea with posters :)

James, our logistics man/life simplifier,
dared to carry the sail sign across the windy BK bridge

Avon sent out emails throughout the summer urging the participants to train. Every time I received one, I thought, Oh please, this is a walk. A WALK PEOPLE. But if you are fat and out of shape, I suppose you should train. Delete. I didn't train. Today, I am hobbling like a peg legged pirate. Or a three legged dog. Or someone who was too arrogant to listen to someone who was offering some advice. Walking 40 miles in two days was a huge physical undertaking that was lots of fun, but also quite challenging.

Day 2 Crossing the footbridge from Randall's Island to East Harlem 

Weekend Highs:

The PERFECT weather

Saturating the BK bridge with pink

Hearing "thank you" from festive strangers lining the streets from Harlem to Soho to Brooklyn to the UES

Laying on the floor of Melissa's apartment and eating Lasagna after Saturday's 26.2 miles

Dipping into Two Little Red Hens for a Brooklyn Blackout cupcake 

(and bit of 2008 era nostalgia) at 8:00 Sunday morning

The man with the "Titty Titty Bang Bang" poster

Only an event for women, put on by a make up company,
would have flowers on the port a potty doors.

 

The bra-mobile. This guy drove laps around the city,
honking and cheering.

Butts in DUMBO

Lows:

Bottle necks at the beginning of each morning

The last 2 miles on Saturday. They were the hardest two of the weekend 

Blisters and stiff hip flexors on Day 2

Navigating Soho during the high brunching hour

Walking behind a teenage girl with a t-shirt that said, "In It To End It For... the memory of my mom"

The vibe was incredibly positive. Survivors. Celebrating memories. Teams and togetherness. But damn. A couple times each day something would get me. I can't even imagine. I don't want to. I just hope they figure this thing out already.

Love at the Finish Line

A Cryin' Shame

RIP Falai, one of my fave restaurants in NYC. Twas the best meal I've had this year and among the best ever. Closed due to "technical difficulties." Rip my heart out.

Just when you least expect it.

The good news:
Zach is coming home today, stitched up and in relatively good spirits, though very eager to be home. I am so GRATEFUL & HAPPY to have him back :)

The rest of the news:
The plan for last weekend was to bike out to Greenport, Long Island for a few days of swimming at Orient Point, wine tasting and catching up with family. 80 miles into our ride, as we passed through the town of Riverhead, Zach was hit by an oncoming car making a left turn. He was flown to Stonybrook Hospital where they quickly determined that his insides and brain were ok, which was a HUGE relief. He has a broken foot and pretty significant soft tissue damage to his left arm, but is on the mend. Slowly, but surely.

As soon as he was hit, a retired policeman, a retired fireman, a lifeguard and a nurse appeared (they all happened to be passing through the area) and took over calling 911, directing traffic, talking to Zach and taking care of him until the EMT got there. A neighbor took care of our bikes while the retired fireman and his wife drove me to the hospital. The outpouring of help and generosity from strangers, friends and family alike has been unbelievable. This weekend was quite an unexpected and scary turn of events, but has gone as smoothly as possible thanks to everyone's support.

Wear your helmets friends. 

Wear your helmets. 

Springtime Mixtape

I'm SO GLAD that spring has sprung! I was getting caught in a downward spiral for a minute there with all that snow and Radiohead (no knock on Radiohead, just sayin' its easy to forget about the sun,  Sublime, and the possibility of flip flops). I've compiled a spring mix (left out the Rhianna that  I've been listening to while running- you're welcome), with links to audio files and sweet videos. I highly recommend downloading the whole Foals and Holy Ghost! albums. They rule. 

Adele- Rolling in the Deep *

TV on the Radio- No Future Shock*

Aerosmith- Rag Doll

Slightly Stoopid- Waiting

Rolling Stones- Miss You

Marley- Rastaman Live Up

Raphael Saadiq- Staying in Love *

Blondie- Hangin on the Telephone *

Foals- Total Life Forever

Holy Ghost!- Static on the Wire
Tune-yards- Bizness *

Calexico- Quattro (World Drifts In)

Monsters of Folk- Baby Boomer

Medicine for the People- Vultures of Culture

Avett Brothers- Laundry Room *
Bon Iver- Skinny Love

* denotes super awesome video

Awesome TV on the Radio clip from their film, Nine Types of Light. Its an hour long (the film, not the clip). Next time you have an hour to kill, watch it. You'll be on the edge of your seat and feeling very artsy/cool the whole time. I was :)

The Avett Brothers link above just melts my heart. I heart them. If you liked their Tiny Desk Concert at the NPR offices, Edward Sharpe, Tom Tom Club and Raphael Saadiq also have Tiny Desk Concerts. Great way to waste a morning. Or an afternoon.

Pls share if you are listening to something that tickles your fancy :)

Good Grafitti

Someone has been expressing their feelings
in the bike lane on the Manhattan Bridge :)

Favorite Things

Pork Buns at Momofuku Noodle Bar

Oprah's not the only one with a list of favorite things. Stina's got one too. Here are a few of my favorite edible things that will end any conversation and totally steal the show when they hit the table.

• Doughnut Plant's coconut creme filled doughnut
• Momofuku's pork buns
• Clerkenwell's sticky toffee pudding
• Freeman's bacon
• DuMont Burger's DuMac n' Cheese
• Sugar Sweet Sunshine's Bob cupcake

Doughnuts before brunch are okay if you call them appetizers. 

i love fall

Zach and Stina's Board of Fun Stuff

I love the fall. I enjoy being back at work (this may be edited out come february). I enjoy a hoodie and jeans, and I LOVE having tons of concerts on my calendar. Tonight kicks off fall with Ra Ra Riot at the Music Hall of Williamsburg. Though I feel as though I shoulda/coulda/woulda loved them from the start, I didn't fall for them until last year when I saw them rock out at All Points West. And wow, who knew a violin and a cello could be so fun?! Here is what's coming up:


Avett Brothers @ Radio City Music Hall on 10/13

Tom Tom Club @ Santos Party House on 10/14

My Morning Jacket @ Terminal 5 on 10/19 and 10/23
Cloud Cult @ Le Poisson Rouge on 10/30


Concert Wish/To Do List:
Florence and The Machine
Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros