A weekend in Food...

This year, a highlight of my yearly girls weekend in the city, with my mom, was an unexpected exchanged between two food lovers and a one lovely chef.

Mr. Ricco gave a small recommendation concerning the butternut squash soup.  Two eaters inform him of their desire to have a vegan meal.  Chef requests they sit back and let him take care of the menu for the evening.  Two novice foodies nervously agree...

This was one of the greatest random moments of my life.  Not only did we discover he was 'kind of a big deal' told by our waiter but we got top vegan treatment!  He said that it posed a challenge for him and that vegans definitely get the short end of the stick.  ;-)

I could gush and gush **note me giving him the BIGGEST hug afterward** but I will just say, it was the best meal I think I have ever had.

 

Thank you Anthony Ricco, that was so kind of you.

The second highlight to this trip... an also unexpected opportunity to pose in a more non traditional Christmas photo...

Sorry mom, you cannot keep this from the world ;-)

Lady New York...

Have I mentioned how I adore the City of New York?

I can remember a time when that city and I were first introduced, when I was of the age of a teen.  How I loved its energy and all of its madness.  I would frequent the old bookstores that sold authors who were forbidden in a small town store.  Though I grew up in a house with a father that held Carlos Castaneda and Tom Robbins in the library I was wide eyed at the discovery of Ginsberg and Bukowski...

So, when my dad said he would be in the City for a day I found the meeting place quite fitting.  Though I was unable to revisit those old dusty bookstores, we did find ourselves a most adventurous day.

I was smitten with these images when hopping off the subway downtown....

And not long after, seeing a gentlemen line up  the most wonderful words, one by one and then over again...

Goodness               Kindness
Faithfulness            Self Control          
Patience                  Peace
Love                      Joy

We were glad to say hello and witness his art in motion.

The delightful part of being in New York, for me, is that there is art everywhere.  These birds were spotted by Miss Gabi...

And these too...

We were also all pleasantly surprised to happen upon a few official galleries!  The kindest couple steered us away from some 'not such age appropriate' wall hangings to the most amazing performance art I have ever seen...

 I mean, someone wore this on a stage once upon a time.  How fantastic!

We saw some neon work, a treat for Sue, and some leggo art, a treat for Noah and this...

The sweetest rides I have ever seen, seriously.

More to come on the food and the play...

Seeing A Bestie...

And her babies!!!

You know those friends, the best of friends, the ones you have known for a long long time?

I just love those kind...

My dear friend Megan has been a bestie for too many years to count.  She lives a 'Mom in the City' kind of life.  And I love to visit her!

 Especially when she has these cuties!!!

 Charlotte and Eloise are too darling for words.  

Charlie is growing into the most articulate young lady.  She emulates her mother to a T... from her curly hair and good looks to her abilities to jot a list and make the most of the moment!  A joy.  My favorite...when she called Matt her uncle.

Eloise has grown leaps and bounds since I have seen her last.  Her squishy cheeks and legs are enough to make you melt.  Her toddlerness, well it is enough to want another!!  My favorite... when she says her name.

El - O - eese

 Surprisingly, Megan and I have both been married for coming up on ten years...and of all things, our hubby's have never met.  Most of my trips back east over the years have been girls only!  And it always seemed that if Matt was there then Sean was not and if Sean was there than Matt was not... 

Not this time though!

  This is them bonding on a walk thru the park.  Finally.

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The trip into the city was a quick one, but plenty of time for a 'sweaty' stroll from West to East and then back again. 

Matt got to hear all about the happenings in Charlotte's life.  She was consumed by some stories she is hearing around town.  The same stories I heard and my parents heard when we were too young!  People are funny...

 Mr. Witt was able to talk love and light with Sweet C and she took comfort and called him Uncle....melt.

I was slightly saddened by my missing youngsters and so was Charlotte!!  I am sure an afternoon with just us adults was NOT was she was expecting, SORRY!

Thank you Mackell family, for joining us on a Sunday walk and delicious lunch.  I cannot wait to see you in my neck of the woods in a few short weeks! 

xoxo

Don't worry Eloise, Noah and Gabi will be here when you visit!

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The escape to the city was delightful all the way around.  Sadly we could only visit the beautiful Whole Foods across the street for a few short minutes to determine if Matt's eyes had deceived him the last time...

and no, they had not!

Back in the family truster for home.  If there was any doubt before (which there was absolutely not) that the Witt family found their place on this Earth, well it was squashed upon the scene we returned to...

I felt welcomed...

Getaway...

Due to the absence of certain small ones I decided the Mr. and I needed to celebrate...
each other.

and what does a young couple do, when they live in the country; to celebrate that is?  

They escape to the big city!

This is me, driving out of the village, biting my lip in pure excitement to see lady New York again...

The drive in is surprisingly easy.  Every last bit of traffic is headed the opposite direction than us country folk, skipping town to enjoy a more relaxing, less city weekend!

Now, I have been chattering about this weekend for a solid few months, ever since my city mom graciously offered her flat while she joined the others bum rushing the countryside.

She knew the importance I had placed on this very short window of opportunity, and well, she spoiled us!  Upon our arrival we were greeted with the most beautiful tray of thoughtfulness.

My most favorite crackers in the entire world, you think I am kidding but no, they are divine.  Paired with delicious cheese and spread, wine, and the most fantastic...

chocolate.  

Cheers!

The buck doesn't stop there, oh no.  In celebration of Mr. Witt and my ten years together my darling matriarch gave a gift to us that is so rare, so unheard of, so blissfully exciting, that we jumped out of our seats upon receiving! 

...a night on the town!!!!

One can only assume what happened next... I passed out from all the excitement and dreamed of city streets, decadent cuisine, and theatre performance...

First thing first.  Downtown.  Record shopping.  We scored a Shins and, of course, a Bright Eyes Album

We wanted Pink Floyd The Wall, but records are now lamely expensive and so we passed on the fifty dollar expenditure, this time.

thumbing thru these now antiquated musical discs was ... perfect for our afternoon.

The walking in downtown is tiresome and builds an appetite quickly.  I find it almost impossible to choose a place.  Each outside dining experience seems better than the last.  To settle for one leaves me wondering what might be around the next corner.  We were lead to pizza, quaint and organic of course...

 well, the two lovely glasses of white was thirst quenching.  however, it did try to lull me to sleep.  

Next time, wait 'til the 5 'o clock hour...

Despite the afternoon downtime we were quickly lifted by the awesomeness of Broadway!

This show was so fun.  I have seen a few shows in my day but haven't been back to broadway in many moons.  The talent was amazing, the jokes were hilarious, and the music... rocked!

It was a wonderful day and night.  I feel so fortunate to have such access to a truly vibrant city.

A very dear friend lives there as well, that is a story for tomorrow... to be continued. 

Father's Day 2011 was a bust and here is why...

The Mr. and I were just not loving each other this weekend.  We were Mr. and Mrs. Bickerson 2011...

...and it was so lame.

 

Matt worked a fifty hour week and I did a gazillion loads of laundry which left both of us feeling a wee bit tense.  Matt was worse than me though...jeez!

However, pre bickering I arranged the delivery of a lovely gift for our doting dad, 

can you guess what it is...

 

In this photo you can...

A. tell Matthew is annoyed with me and also suffering from exhaustion.

B. tell that his daughter thinks the WORLD of him.

 This picture showcases just what the smaller Witt's love about their dad.

He is super fun and he does silly things.

He likes to build with Lego's and stay up late.  He likes to eat candy, blow bubbles, skateboard, and play board games.   





I think he likes his gift.  I gave away his old record player to Uncle jay because it was bulky and its appearance did not compliment my decor.  That was ages ago.  This one is better...

Even though our behavior was deplorable Grandma Mindy still treated us to a fabulous lunch in the East Village.  First I had to visit my Crumbs friends once more...

Then we went to...

on...

and ate this...

and it was too die for!

So despite the upset on this Father's Day, Mr. Witt knows just how we feel about him.

He's the best.  

In so many ways.  

And we are back in love once again, ready to face the long hours and laundry monsters, together.

On another note...

This week was also so ridiculous that the other dads, one in a desert and the other in a kingdom, were neglected as well.  No cards for you.  Gah!
This is not like me.
But you know who you are and you know that I love you dearly.