Tartine (San Francisco)

It has been a fun and busy fall. It's my slow time at work so we have taken advantage of that by going away on some relaxing vacations! And since Mark and I love good food we always enjoy checking out new restaurants when we travel. So needless to say there has been some amazing food lately. And let's just also say that we are looking in to gym memberships as a result.  

One of our favorite finds was Tartine bakery in San Francisco. Oh my - it was good. We went twice. (We were only there for two days.) Not only was everything delicious (which it obviously was) it was a fun place to hang out and we made some friends and enjoyed chatting leisurely as only New Yorkers on vacation can do.

Procession of the Ghouls

Halloween? Long overdue...yes. But, as I wish I had snapped back to my high school Spanish teacher the only day I walked in late, "más vale tarde que nunca" (better late than never). Too bad I didn't remember that vocabulary phrase quick enough in 9th grade. Oh well.

Halloween weekend we went to The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine for the Procession of the Ghouls. Prior to the procession, they showed the 1925 version of the Phantom of the Opera accompanied by a live organ performance. The film was actually quite creepy. The ghouls were fun to watch from a distance but when they got up close they were scary. I remember one in particular. Liz even screamed he got so close to us.

The Cathedral is quite amazing. Liz and I did a Crypt Crawl tour a year ago and loved it as well. Happy Halloween...or better yet, Happy Thanksgiving!

Celebrity Sightings

I always complain about being the only person who never sees famous people in New York. Everyone has their celebrity anecdotes. Everyone but me that is. And today we learned why...

Mark and I were in the airport at JFK walking to our gate when we came face to face with Ty Burrell (aka Phil Dunfee of modern family, which just so happens to be our favorite tv show these days) and his real family.  But when I say we came face to face, it is probably more accurate to say that Mark came face to face and I came face to top of head--eek--I was looking straight down! (a walking representation of those over-used accounting jokes about accountants looking at people's feet that I've heard way too often since the day I chose Accounting as a major in school).

As soon as we had passed them Mark discretely pointed him out (he so kept his cool) and I completely freaked out!  I insisted that we pivot and follow them. Mark whispered "we don't want to stalk them" but I exclaimed "yes-we do!".

And we did. Not in a running up and begging for an autograph sort of way. But more in an "I've seen too many episodes of 24 and apparently think I've lost my calling as a spy" sort of way. I really thought I was smooth until Mark (ever the voice of reason) pointed out that we were in a restricted security zone (which I had failed to notice in my Jack Bauer-like attempts to get us the best view).

*Have you seen the episode where Phil gets an ipad?  It's a favorite and oft-quoted episode around here. Whenever Mark gets something that he had been secretly harboring a desire for he imitates Phil when he exclaims about his new ipad: "I said it didn't matter - but it did.  It so mattered!" or something to that effect.

Take-out routine?

Apparently.

Which ones are well past their prime? Which folded paper boxes contain tonight's dinner?

*One of my favorite practical comments from Relief Society (back pre-Nursery calling days) was this girl in our ward saying that she and her husband had taken to ordering extra take-out on Saturday nights to make sure they had plenty of food for Sunday. I loved hearing this. Of course I always want to be the perfect image of Donna Reed making Sunday roast while wearing pearls, but it's nice to know that other people sometimes fall short of that ideal too. It's nice to think that other people sometimes don't make it to the store Saturday night and end up eating spaghetti or cereal (or Chinese leftovers) for dinner. Solidarity.

**Photo taken by Liz. (I must clarify as not to sully Mark's good photographic name-haha).

Weekend = Time to Sleep

All week we have been looking forward to the weekend to catch up on sleep. (Then again - EVERY week we look forward to the weekend to catch up on sleep.  At least there are some things in life you know you can count on.)  

From the looks of things - we aren't the only ones.

EAT/MOVE/LEARN

Have you seen these videos?
 

They feel very eat/pray/love, but so much better. For starters, no spouse-leaving was required, which I got kind of hung up on with eat/pray/love. Second, we are obsessed with the photo/videography.

My favorite is Move. Probably because it is so symmetrical. I have a strange thing for symmetry.  Anytime that Mark asks my opinion when he is trying to choose between two different images, he laughs when he gets my vote because it is invariably for the more symmetrical of the two. Classic accountant opinion...

Dynamic Duo

We live across the street from the Hearst Building, and every day when we are walking past to get to the subway we see 2-minute glimpses into real-life-movie-lives. The people that are getting in and out of the chauffeured cars in their fancy fancy clothes and high high heels look like characters from Devil Wears Prada, and of course I've convinced myself that if I shadowed them for a day their lives would really truly be like the movies we've all seen about them.

Anyway, sometimes when we walk by these people (especially on off days as pictured), I feel like Anne Hathaway at the beginning of the movie.

Speaking of Brunch

It was really good.

We really liked the feel. It kind of reminded us of Market Street in Salt Lake.

We are starting to notice that we have a little bit of a weakness for eggs benedict and French toast, but no two eggs benedict are alike and we are determined to find the best one. Just think of them as the control group in our brunch experiment…That justifies the calories and fat, right?

Plus - would you be able to say no to French toast with maple ice cream? I think not. In fact, I'd be willing to go so far as to know not.

Bike/Brunch/Walk/Nap

We really need to work on what we consider productive.

This Saturday was one of the first in a long time when neither Mark nor I had to work. So much freedom we hardly knew what to do with ourselves!

Of course after such a jolly time biking last Saturday, we hit up Summer Streets week two. Loved it. (Of course-what's not to love?). Less freebies this week. But more biking. You win some - you lose some. We made it all the way to the Brooklyn Bridge and then rode up the Hudson River bike path all the way home.

It was so great to get back from biking and not feel the weight of work -- to celebrate we made our way down to Chelsea to eat brunch at the Standard Grill (under the Standard hotel - where Mark really wants to stay some day…). You know how we love our 3pm brunch.

Despite our full tum tums we walked the High Line. I've been wanting to see the new section they just opened this spring. (Mark had already seen it - but was willing to come with me again).

It's amazing how not working can make me so tired. I quickly fell asleep on the couch watching The Parent Trap on ABC Family. (Why is watching movies on tv more appealing to me? It makes no logical sense.)

Yankees Game

BEST DAY OF WORK EVER*

Like most little kids - I couldn't decide what I wanted to be when I grew up.** I vacillated between wanting to be a movie star, a professional ballerina, or the President. It was a tough decision.

Years later when I learned that I didn't quite have the skill sets for any of my kindergarten options, I started looking into what I thought were more realistic choices. For several years in high school/college I remember telling my parents that I didn't know exactly what I wanted to be when I grew up, but I knew that it would involve taking people to lunch. For what? - I didn't have the slightest idea. Nor did I care. I just wanted long leisurely lunches. Clearly that hasn't panned out any better than being a movie star. 0 for 2.

Anyway - regardless of my career path... today gave me a glimpse into how glorious it would have been if the amorphous taking-people-to-lunch job had come to fruition. Let's just say it was a delight. My big realization was that waitress service to your seats is the best thing ever. And my big questions the whole time were "who are these other 47k people who have nothing else they have to do all thursday afternoon?" and "how do I regularly become one of them?" Of course, I'm grateful for my one-day visit.

*For all of you who have ever heard me talk about my job - you know there have been quite a few days that would merit titles of the opposite nature.

**Ironically, my boss facetiously asked me just the other day what I want to be when I grow up. Hmmm - good question.

Prefab Homes

(Photos from http://weehouse.com/)

Prefab homes. They have always been a fascination of mine. The fascination started many years ago with photographs of prefab homes online and in Dwell magazine. Their  simplicity is beautiful. No frills, yet all you need. Nothing more, nothing less.

Why I love these homes is perfectly encapsulated by what Milton Glazer said. "Just enough is more." He said that less is not more, less is in fact usually less, but just enough can be and frequently is more.

"Just enough is more" embodies the ideal prefab home. These homes are not less, not lacking. They are just enough. Just enough space, just enough design...

Liz walked in the door a few weeks ago and I couldn't wait for her to pull up a chair next to the computer and see what I had been scheming for the last 30 minutes.
     - 5.6 Acres of wooded land near a lake in the  
      Poconos (Pennsylvania: 1.5-2hrs from NYC)
     - Half an acre in Rhode Island about 30
      minutes from Newport (3+ hours from NYC)
     - 6 acres of land in Maine between Ogunquit and
      Kennebunkport (6+ hours from NYC)

The Poconos seems like the best option. It's location would be ideal for getting away in a reasonable amount of time.

Liz thought it looked neat but was not entirely sure what she had gotten herself into when she pulled up a chair next to me...Then I said that there was more!

I had countless tabs open on the web browser of prefab homes and some preliminary pricing information. I showed her the uber-modern designs, the homes made from recycled shipping containers, and my favorite, the homes full of light with walls of windows. (Think Phillip Johnson's Glass House with a tad more privacy)

Liz and I were both hungry for dinner. My appetite is often curbed by my scheming. As my scheming continued I pulled up other tabs that I had all ready for her. When I scheme, I scheme. 30+ tabs with land listings, maps, mortgage calculators, various prefab manufactures and last but not least, a list of the parking garages near where we live in city and their pricing (Because we would clearly need a car if we had a house outside the city...oh, the scheming. Also, I had looked at a few cars too...Liz may not have known that at the time.)

When Liz and I met, in Rhode Island, our dream of having a house outside the city was born. We have a jar we fill with change that we somewhat jokingly and somewhat seriously call our Rhode Island Jar. Although it may need to be renamed the Poconos jar. We are on our way to a prefab home near a lake in the Poconos.

*The jar full of change, aka the down payment, has about $60 dollars in it according to Liz. I think it has closer to $80.

Lincoln Center at Night

After going to the movies last week we were walking home and as we crossed 64th and Broadway we noticed that the lights were still on at the elevated lawn at Lincoln Center. We have been wanting to go see it and this was a perfect time.

When we were there we ran into a few people we know. We love when that happens. It makes this large and crazy city seem smaller and a little less crazy.

Summer Streets

One of my (and now our) favorite new city traditions is Summer Streets--for three Saturdays in August they close Park Avenue from Central Park (via 72nd Street) to the Brooklyn Bridge for runners/walkers/bikers(us)/rollerbladers.

Last Saturday was the first of the three weekends, and we made sure to set our alarm early enough to take part in the fun!

And let's just say I couldn't wipe the nerdy smile off my face. I kept saying cheesy things to Mark about feeling like a part of the community and seeing things from another perspective and being part of something bigger than yourself. And on and on. Boy was I on one. You could have gotten me to volunteer for just about anything public service-y during the euphoric high I felt during our ride.

But seriously - I really think Summer Streets is New York at its finest. I love seeing the local kids come out in force on their little bikes with training wheels. I love the policemen who make sure we don't get hit by cars. And I love the feeling of not taking any space for granted.

We are hoping the weather is as nice the next two Saturdays because we intend to hit up some portion of the event every week. Of course this Saturday we are determined to wake up earlier so we get more goodies and free hand-outs. (I am a SUCKER for free things and was quite disappointed that a few of the stations ran out by the time we got there).

Anyway, I would be remiss if I did not recommend this to everyone. Goodness knows my co-workers have heard no end of my pitches for it.

*Oh, and there are free bike rentals!

Cross Country Goodwill Run

There are lots of things that are so convenient about living in New York (think walking to… church/groceries/Bed Bath and Beyond/movie theatre/J. Crew/etc.).

But there are definitely things that are less convenient than home. (think Costco runs/days where you go from place to place and become bag lady because you need so many things/etc.).

So in the vein of inconvenience - a few months ago Mark and I were cleaning up our apartment and made a concerted effort to de-junk. Our goodwill pile got pretty big. And of course once we had gone to all that work cleaning we were too tired to schlep our heap of hand-offs to 79th Street, which was the closest goodwill place I knew at the time. The task seemed too daunting.

So there our pile sat in our front-entry way. For weeks. And was still sitting when we started packing for our trip home to Utah. And of course Mark thought I was crazy when I suggested (and then insisted) that we just pack our goodwill into an extra suitcase (don't worry - we could check it for free AND were taking a cab anyway…) and take it to Salt Lake- where it would be so easy to drop it off at the D.I. from the convenience of a car! It sounds crazy. And it was. But I stand by the fact that at the time it felt easier to take it across the country than to take it a mile uptown.

Night at the Museum

If it weren't creepy we would try to borrow a child so we could do this:

http://www.amnh.org/kids/sleepovers/

It seems unfair to be excluded since I still feel like a kid and would likely get as excited as one.

Balboa Island and tabbed browsing

  

These photos are from a trip to California in May when we met up with Liz's family for a California vacation.

As I am writing this, at about 2am, Liz is busy working her excel magic. Luckily she is working from home. This afternoon I finished retouching a number of photos and am taking a break tonight.

We are planning a trip for the fall. It has been a busy summer, we are grateful for all the work and very excited to go somewhere. I have 15-20 tabs open in a couple browsers researching cruises, airfare etc. I keep shouting out neat things I find to Liz. We are contemplating a cruise at the moment. Liz has been on one before. I have not.

Thank goodness for tabbed browsing and the ability to instantaneously search anything and everything.

House Guest - Matt

To preface this post, we would like to thank Ben Hansen for giving us a guestbook. We love having people write in it. To all of you that have stayed and written in it, thank you.

Matt is Mark's younger brother and is the first person we are going to feature as a house guest on the blog.

What was your favorite thing you did/saw?

I would have to say the pee-wee herman show on broadway.

What was the strangest thing you did/saw?

Well probably the same as my favorite thing haha, pee wee is awesome but a little weird.

What was the best thing you ate? (or multiple things in this case)

It's probably a toss up between the pastrami sandwich at Katz's and the ever delicious peperoni pizza from Lombardis. (The BYU blow out of Gonzaga that night we had Lombardi's may have helped the taste as well!) The enchiladas suizas from Cafe Habana everything is just so delicious in NYC.

Would you ever want to live in NYC?

I would live in NYC.  I love that there is always something to do somewhere to go and just so many choices for entertainment, activities and food! It may be a little fast paced for my laid back attitude, but it just seems like such an interesting and fun place to live!

Did you have any funny subway/cab/walking experiences?

I think the funny subway experience would have to be picking up Liz's bike from her old apartment. the thing didn't roll very well and it was pretty entertaining getting it up and down all the stairs and on and off the train. The 4 flights of stairs at the end was... entertaining. 

What would you recommend to future visitors? Not recommend?

I would recommend that they have some ideas of places they want to go and especially eat. Go in with an open mind and an empty stomach. Take any food advice that Mark and Liz give because they will never steer you wrong (Thanks Matt).  Lombardis is always a must.

How many times have you been to NYC?

I have been to NY around 10 times.

Blue Ribbon Bakery

I know. I know. There are a million amazing restaurants in New York  - we shouldn't go to the same ones over and over again (a la Shake Shack), but lately we are on a Blue Ribbon Bakery kick. After having neglected it for a year and a half - there were three visits in July. What can I say - we're feeling the love for that challah French toast. (photos from 2 of the 3 visits)

*Helpful note: The "Blue" in the Blue Benedict on the brunch menu refers to the name of the restaurant not some sort of blue cheese - which I think would be disgusting with hollandaise sauce.


Blue Ribbon Bakery
35 Downing Street
New York, NY 10014

Where it all began

This is one of my favorite pictures.  It's from the Rhode Island road trip where Mark and I first met.  I love all the smiling faces.  Doesn't everyone look so shiny?  Not in a greasy/didn't wash their faces sort of way - but in a happy/vacation sort of way!  Plus, don’t you love the creepy scarecrow thing right next to my face.  Weird how I didn't notice it until maybe the 10th time I was looking at the picture.  I also love this photo because it was the one I kept emailing around to friends and saying "he's the one on the far right… isn't he cute?... well we're going out again this week… I really like him…" etc etc etc.  for the first few months of dating Mark.  No wonder I love it!

Also, fun little tidbit - the guy to my left and the girl to my right in this pic met the same weekend we did and got married right around the same time as us.  Magic in the Rhode Island air?

Another fun tidbit...(Mark writing now) I sent my family a few photos after returning from Rhode Island. The one above being one of them. My mom said, "who is that girl in the light purple sweater?" I responded by saying that her name was Liz and that I had just asked her on a date. Great minds...