Last night’s music rehearsal at my friend Alan Ravage’s house with my other friend Mark (master pianist, composer/arranger and on-the-spot copy editor; thanks Mark!) has left me completely drained. The late dinner last night on the UWS at a Cuban-Chinese restaurant (seriously, it was good) left me slightly bloated and icky this morning.  (The songs… Continue reading Recovering with Korean: Rice & Chopsticks @ Falchi’s, 31-00 47th Ave., Long Island City, Queens 11/10/16

I woke up today and learned that Donald Trump was elected President. I’m shocked, confused, conflicted and scared. On the E train going to work, the subway car was dead silent. I don’t think anyone was breathing…. Also, today is the anniversary of the horrible night of “Kristallnacht”, the “Night of the broken glass”. Some… Continue reading Cloudy day in Sunnyside: White Castle @ 43-02 Queens Blvd., Sunnyside, Queens 11/9/16

I was the 131st voter this morning at my polling place at 7:15 am. Wow. I actually witnessed a medium-sized argumentive confrontation with a poll volunteer/voter. I’ve never seen an Election Day so passionate with my neighbors, except when Obama was elected the first time, and back in college in Kansas, when I voted for… Continue reading Two pies on Election Day: Stolle @ Falchi’s, 31-00 47th Ave., Long Island City, Queens 11/8/16

Tomorrow is my husband’s birthday. Since it’s also Election Day and my chorus practice after work, we’re going out tonight to eat vegan food. We are not vegans (he’s mostly vegetarian for health reasons; I’m lactose-intolerant but still love meat), but for our birthdays, we like to go to a place where we don’t second-guess… Continue reading Vegetarian lunch (mostly in theory): Good Neighbor Queens @ Falchi’s, 31-00 47th Ave., Long Island City, Queens 11/7/16

I had to do a follow-up exam at my doctor’s, thanks to some mishandling of my previous specimen by some unknown lab tech. And, another patient was probably having a baby, so I had to wait. Then, a car splashed mud on my first outfit of the today. Yuck… So, freshly showered, I head to… Continue reading Where’s the salmon?!: The Sushi Bar @ Columbus Circle Whole Foods, 59th St. & Columbus Ave., New York, NY 10023, 11/4/16

Dinner with drinks (just 2) with my good friend/coworker John is fun, but the day after, not so much…mornings were so much easier to navigate while I was in my twenties. I was even back home by 9 pm, and in bed by 10:30, and I’m still stuck and sleepy. (Happy that the Cubs won (Yay!), but… Continue reading Sobering up before the rain: The MasalaWala @ Falchi’s, 31-00 47th Ave., Long Island City, Queens, NY 11/3/16

It’s Crystal’s first day here. I’m so excited! She has worked with me for 5 years at LPA cataloging film and videos for the Dance Division. She’s fun and adventurous, a world-traveler, a lover of comedy acts, has multi-colored short hair and rides her bike to work. A great pal all-around. So, I showed her Falchi’s today at… Continue reading Crystal memories of Spain: Don Tapas @ Falchi’s, 31-00 47th Ave., Long Island City, NY, 11/2/16

Today’s lunch was really special, thanks to my co-workers Camille and Thea. It was Camille’s idea to go to Dazies, and Thea came along providing the perfect lunch with her humor and sparkling repartee. “It’s a little expensive, but it’s worth it,” They were both right. Dazies was worth every penny. Dazies Italian Restaurant has been an institution in… Continue reading Where flavors and history run deep: Dazies Restaurant, 39-41 Queens Boulevard, Sunnyside, Queens, 11/1/16

Halloween is a weird holiday regardless, especially in New York. Most people don’t get into Halloween at all, i.e. dressing up. I understand that during the working hours, and in the daytime (unless there’s soon awesome brunch costume party I don’t know about, kudos!), costumes won’t work. But Halloween night? Unheard of! I mean, isn’t it the… Continue reading Halloween eats at Dreamland: untitled @ The Whitney Museum, 99 Gansevoort St., New York, NY,10/31/16

Today is the GNYMLA fall meeting at the Morgan Library & Museum. Hosted by the incredible music department head Fran Barulich, the museum did not disappoint with exhibitions featuring art, music and writings by Hans Memling, Martin Luther, Charlotte Bronte and Jean Dubuffet. Check it out if you can. After the business meeting/tour, I needed… Continue reading After the meeting at The Morgan: Pret a Manger, 39th Street & Madison Ave, NYC, 10/28/16