Hi...I'm sitting at Starbucks in the Port Authority Bus Terminal waiting for the #66 bus to Montclair. It runs every hour on the half hour on weekends. I will catch the 2:30.
I am secretly glad the C subway train got me here from Brooklyn just 5 minutes too late to get the 1:30 because I love to blog away from home--even if I'm just a short drive away as the crow flies.
Liz, Kim, Nan and I had a great time in 24 hours in Brooklyn this weekend. [My trip was 29.5 hours counting travel.] We walked around the Brooklyn Botanic Garden--though it was cold and kind of barren on Leap Day, you could see all the promise, the dogwoods, the kitchen garden, all waiting to bloom. We went to the Brooklyn Museum, where we saw ancient mummies and Judy Chicago's "The Dinner Party," described as an installation artwork by feminist artist Judy Chicago. Widely regarded as the first epic feminist artwork, it functions as a symbolic history of women in civilization. I had never seen it, and it was moving. Places are set around the table for everyone from Emily Dickinson to Sacagawea. It will long stay in my mind's eye.
Kim and her husband, F., and their daughter, C., live in an historic home built circa 1860–great soft pine plank floors, narrow stairways that have withstood many a step, many an armful and heartful, marble mantels upstairs and down, because people had to stoke fires to keep warm. Our friends' other two lovely daughters are on their own now.
Kim and F. love to cook and are excellent at it. We were treated like royalty. [I think F. has some royalty in his background, and at the very least, he has princelike qualities, so he should know.]
They blocked out their newly furnished Airbnb apartment downstairs for the three of us last night, and served us delicious treats including homemade spicy Pakistani dahl; shrimp with vegetables; from-scratch hummus and tabouleh; platters piled with vivid fresh fruit; Kim's signature pavlova with berries and clouds of whipped cream; luxurious lox; Brooklyn bagels; and more. Omigosh. It was so much fun and so pampering.
The three of us went out for craft cocktails last night at Weather Up, a bar with a speakeasy vibe. I had the Night Shift; someone had the Ancient Mariner. That might have been Kim--her tall cooler was stirred up with crushed ice and excellent housemade ginger syrup. We stayed up late catching up--we read each other's blogs and we already know a lot, but now we had a chance to fill in the details. We laughed and chatted, and remembered Nan's sister, Mary, who left the world, and her husband and three kids, at a young age.
Now home I go to my more pedestrian life, but I still love it, and am grateful for Dan, Figgy, Punch and Sug. It was a nice break. I'm curious to learn more about Brooklyn. Dan lived on 3rd Street near Seventh Avenue in Park Slope when we dated, and he took me to Prospect Park, BAM, Junior's [cheesecake] and other places. Dan F. lived in Brooklyn for a long time and we visited often. I've been to Williamsburg, and to Coney Island with my parents and with Punch, and to Brooklyn Heights for a work assignment. We have walked over the Brooklyn Bridge. But there is so much more to explore. One day I will.
TCOY
I am secretly glad the C subway train got me here from Brooklyn just 5 minutes too late to get the 1:30 because I love to blog away from home--even if I'm just a short drive away as the crow flies.
Liz, Kim, Nan and I had a great time in 24 hours in Brooklyn this weekend. [My trip was 29.5 hours counting travel.] We walked around the Brooklyn Botanic Garden--though it was cold and kind of barren on Leap Day, you could see all the promise, the dogwoods, the kitchen garden, all waiting to bloom. We went to the Brooklyn Museum, where we saw ancient mummies and Judy Chicago's "The Dinner Party," described as an installation artwork by feminist artist Judy Chicago. Widely regarded as the first epic feminist artwork, it functions as a symbolic history of women in civilization. I had never seen it, and it was moving. Places are set around the table for everyone from Emily Dickinson to Sacagawea. It will long stay in my mind's eye.
Kim and her husband, F., and their daughter, C., live in an historic home built circa 1860–great soft pine plank floors, narrow stairways that have withstood many a step, many an armful and heartful, marble mantels upstairs and down, because people had to stoke fires to keep warm. Our friends' other two lovely daughters are on their own now.
Kim and F. love to cook and are excellent at it. We were treated like royalty. [I think F. has some royalty in his background, and at the very least, he has princelike qualities, so he should know.]
They blocked out their newly furnished Airbnb apartment downstairs for the three of us last night, and served us delicious treats including homemade spicy Pakistani dahl; shrimp with vegetables; from-scratch hummus and tabouleh; platters piled with vivid fresh fruit; Kim's signature pavlova with berries and clouds of whipped cream; luxurious lox; Brooklyn bagels; and more. Omigosh. It was so much fun and so pampering.
The three of us went out for craft cocktails last night at Weather Up, a bar with a speakeasy vibe. I had the Night Shift; someone had the Ancient Mariner. That might have been Kim--her tall cooler was stirred up with crushed ice and excellent housemade ginger syrup. We stayed up late catching up--we read each other's blogs and we already know a lot, but now we had a chance to fill in the details. We laughed and chatted, and remembered Nan's sister, Mary, who left the world, and her husband and three kids, at a young age.
Now home I go to my more pedestrian life, but I still love it, and am grateful for Dan, Figgy, Punch and Sug. It was a nice break. I'm curious to learn more about Brooklyn. Dan lived on 3rd Street near Seventh Avenue in Park Slope when we dated, and he took me to Prospect Park, BAM, Junior's [cheesecake] and other places. Dan F. lived in Brooklyn for a long time and we visited often. I've been to Williamsburg, and to Coney Island with my parents and with Punch, and to Brooklyn Heights for a work assignment. We have walked over the Brooklyn Bridge. But there is so much more to explore. One day I will.
TCOY
- The Bloggers Bash immersion! We walked, talked, bonded, caught up.
- Good night's sleep.
- Excellent nourishment at Kim and F.'s farm table.
- Bought some nasturtium seeds and ranunculus bulbs, a promise of beauty and color to come, at Brooklyn Botanic Garden store.
$ MONEY SPENT OUT OF POCKET SATURDAY/SUNDAY
- Saturday, Feb 29: 2 bus tix, $15.30.
- Duane Reade, shower cap, $1.69.
- Refill MetroCard, $11.
- Cocktails, $20.
- Gift shop at BBG, $21.
- Coffees at BBG, $9.
- Museum admission, $10, my part.
- Sunday, Mar 1: Cold brew and quiche slice/salad to bring home for lunch w tip, $18. Nice Ethiopian business on Fulton Street called Bloom, expensive but wanted a taste of hip Brooklyn to take back to NJ. Punch loved the salad, with its fresh dressing.
total spend: $87.99.
total monthly spend as of Feb. 29: $2,480.34.
avg daily spend: $85.53.
I'm glad this came down from January, below.
ongoing monthly spend as of March 1: $18.
avg daily spend: $18.
avg daily spend: $85.53.
I'm glad this came down from January, below.
ongoing monthly spend as of March 1: $18.
avg daily spend: $18.
compare to January 2020:
Total monthly spend as of Jan 31: $3,063.60.
Avg daily spend: $98.83.
__________________________________________________________________
Total monthly spend as of Jan 31: $3,063.60.
Avg daily spend: $98.83.
december 2019 [Christmas and all that entails]
total monthly spend as of Dec. 31: $3,998.16.
avg daily spend: $128.97. __________________________________________________________________
Total spend for November (30 days): $2,979.03.
Average daily spend: $99.30.
__________________________________________________________________
TOTAL SPEND FOR OCTOBER (31 DAYS): $2,495.36.
AVERAGE DAILY SPEND: $80.49.
_____________________________________________________________________
TOTAL SPEND FOR SEPTEMBER (30 DAYS): $2,214.43.
AVERAGE DAILY SPEND: $73.81.
___________________________________________________________________________
TOTAL SPEND FOR AUGUST (31 DAYS/PLUS VACAY IN HERE): $2,895.06. ⬆️
AUGUST AVERAGE DAILY SPEND: $93.39. ⬆️
Posts
Did not realize Brooklyn was aqua until you and your sweater matched all those little shops! So of course you are destined to explore it.
ReplyDeleteI was very impressed with the Brooklyn Botanic and Museum too - walking distance! But yes, the in person chat was the most fun.
My prosaic kitchen chores are done - meatloaf amd Brussels sprout dinner, chopped chicken and salad for tomorrow, hardboiled some eggs, and sliced my beautiful bagels for freezing. Now to bed, great weekend!
Liz
Haha Brooklyn aqua! So glad I matched. I loved the Brooklyn Museum and the outside of the library, and walking around the neighborhood with sunny Kim for our tour guide. I'm glad you got home in time to do your food prep, meatloaf, yum. It was great to see everyone. I love your colorful stories. Have a good day, Liz. xoxo Alice
DeleteWe’ve got a couple of little plants to look beautiful, smell great, and remind us of you! Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteNan
Hiya Nan. So good to see you. I'm glad I pointed out the warm mitts the delivery people on bikes have on their handlebars. I loved catching up. Kim and F so gracious. Have a good day. I am back to job hunting. Love Alice
DeleteSounds so fun!
ReplyDeleteHi Eileen....it was enriching...and then I came back to a Punchy bouncing off the walls from ADHD....I had a well to dip into, the well we fill when we have time to ourselves/with friends....I was thinking of you going to that concert with your friend...was it Dolly Parton? Love Alice
Delete