Friday, August 20, 2010

New York. I Wasn't On Vacation But . . .

I must admit it worked out perfectly to have to be in New York for business on a Monday.  It's miraculous almost the way the schedule worked.  It left me with an opportunity for a weekend of opportunities and experiences that I couldn't have imagined.

One of my dearest friends from college days, truthfully a soul sister, lives just outside of NYC.  She's an incredibly talented textile designer who went to school in Georgia - first Berry College, then UGA.  My friend is an amazing person who knows how to experience life with feeling and more significantly, with an "eye that sees."   I can't do her justice by trying to describe her joie de vivre and the way she focuses on experiencing life but I can tell you about some of the amazing things we managed to pack into two short days thanks to Aggie.

Have you been to the New York Botanical Garden? 

It was my first time to visit and I loved it.  Martha Stewart is there!   Well, sort of.  Martha Stewart has designed an historical herb garden.  Guests at the garden can take a quick trolley tour of the entire garden or use the trolley to visit some of the many "gardens" within the garden. 

  
Outside the Conservatory, the planters were filled with eggplant, corn, peppers and lots of other edibles. 


There were several things I enjoyed about the purple and white garden.

Like thistle.


And Peter Rabbit was there too.

We left the gardens and headed to a nearby neighborhood fish market to pick up some fresh fish for dinner.  Was I surprised when I discovered that "fresh" was "fresh from Italy." 


How would you like some fresh mozzarella?  It's made fresh dailyIn case your wondering, yes, we bought some - yum!


I spotted something I'd never seen, or tasted before - rice balls.  Have you had them?  The are incredible!  These would make a perfect lunch for me everyday.  

UPDATE!  Patti at Bramasole....Yearn for the Sun posted the recipe for rice balls!  Click on the link above.


We planned to stop for some coffee but then I spotted a bakery lined with cases of pastries like this.  I'm not making this up - there must have been more than 100 different sweets to choose from!!!

And then I saw the gelato.  It too is made at the bakery.

Needless to say, I opted for a little more than some coffee.  

I also found it charming that almost every store or restaurant had a sign up that read something like this.  
Can't wait to tell you about our next stop!



16 comments:

  1. Oh wow. How exciting.

    I've been in NYC twice - - - both times with 8th graders from our school, so I had to do what was on the "schedule"

    I like YOUR schedule better.

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  2. This is the trip you were telling us about. You did a lot in a couple days. sandie

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  3. Fun to see the photos after hearing you talk about your trip! The Botanical Gardens look fabulous.

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  4. What a fabulous weekend! I would have gone broke at that fish market! In case you're interested, I posted a while ago about rice balls. Do a search on the blog for "arancini"- not hard to do and delicious!
    xoxo Pattie

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  5. It sounds like you had a great time! Your pictures are wonderful...
    xo
    Penny

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  6. The rice balls are something I've never tried - thanks for pointing us to a recipe.
    I love NYC, but haven't been there for years and years. Aren't you lucky to have a friend to be your guide?!

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  7. How fun! I have never been to New York, so I am enjoying your trip. The Italian dishes look fantastic! Linda

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  8. Isn't NY wonderful!!! That is why I am so thrilled to live there. And yes, there are more things to do, see and taste than you can imagine. So glad you enjoyed your tasteful trip!!!

    Smiles, Lilly

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  9. Did you make it out to LI? It would have been great to meet you!
    Yes, I have had rice balls, delicious. The bakery looks wonderful.
    We don't have good bakeries out here, an hour from NYC! So I am forced to bake! That's my story and I am sticking to it!

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  10. Oh JoJo, great photographs of a wonderful city! My dear husband went to graduate school there and lived there for years, we love the city! Thanks for sharing such awesome photographs, a great reminder of an incredible place.

    Know you loved your trip, thanks for the memories!

    Nancy

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  11. So nice that you had a great trip. I have always wanted to go the garden but have not made it yet. I am going to NYC again in a few weeks so newly inspired by your post I will now try to fit it in. Have a wonderful week!

    ~jermaine

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  12. It's a wonderful experience to explore NYC with a friend who lives there, the secret places that tourists never see and the insider places that only they know.
    I had the pleasure, when I visited my dear friend Janet some years back, can't wait to read more about your trip.
    Maggie

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  13. In all my years of living in NYC I never went to the NY Botanical Garden in the Bronx -- since I live in Brooklyn I visit the Brooklyn Botanic Garden instead. I will have to rectify that next summer! So nice you had a good friend to meet up with in the city for a fun day.

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  14. What a great and interesting place to visit! Beautiful shots.

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