"The Red Coats Are Coming!...Quack,Quack!": BOSTON 06/12

After New York we got to relax and take it down a notch or 2 in lovely,welcoming Boston. The weather tried to welcome us too...although it did get a little grey and wet. But nothing put a damper on our visit and stay with friends: nothing like a lobster BBQ on a roof terrace that delivers the Boston skyline to your lap...while you sip on martinis while listening to the dulcet tones of the de-lovely Adele....Heaven.

So here are my snap shots: Let me start you off with our "Ducktour: THE RED COATS ARE COMINGGGG!....QUACK, QUACK..."



*OUR CARRIAGE AWAITS...THE ESPLA-NADIA(green one)*




*OUR CAPTAIN:PAUL REVERSE....*




*ON THE RIVER CHARLES*



*COLOURFUL ON NEWBURY STREET*

*MY STOMPING GROUND COTELAC*

*QUAINT*

*SOMETHING OLD/SOMETHING BLUE*

*MIRROR MIRROR...*

*BOYLSTON STREET*

*COMM.AVE.*

*SWOOSH!*



*ALLSAINTS PRESERVE US*



*REACH FOR THE SKY*

*RIPPED OUTSIDE THE PRU*



*BLOOD SWEAT AND STEEL*



*WHERE'S THAT DAMNED HARE?*

*I BELIEVE I CAN FLY*

*ART IMITATING LIFE..*

*PRIVATE DANCER*

*RICO SUAVE @ THE MFA*

*REDLIGHT*

*ANYTHING YOU CAN DO...*

*TRUCK LOBSTER*



*55*



*MUG SHOT:AMELIE*

*MUG SHOT:LOUIS*

*...& THEY CALL IT PUPPY LOVE*

                                                             


                                                              THAT'S ALL FOLKS!

For all those of you who don't know him....THE DAD HATTER

Yes... he does resemble the late great Peter Ustinov's Hercule Poirot in this picture...but The Dad Hatter ain't no sleuth nor a CS Lewis character... He is my Dad: a master of sarcasm , wit and Borsalino's.

The Dad Hatter Chronicles are short bursts of "chatter" between us(my sister,Dad and I and anyone in between)  that I have been lovingly compiling to share with you. All this is a click away...on the left hand side...just by the sketch:


The Chatter will be the comedy relief that will bulk up the book "THE DAD HATTER CHRONICLES" that I am working on: part historical background, part stories of his past with wild characters that spiced up our lives...but most importantly:100%  humour.


If you haven't had the pleasure of meeting him yet....Let me introduce you to:
The Dad Hatter..my dad, my inspiration. 


Check out latest posting: "Where's Yankee Doodle ?"

Supply & Reprimand....

Mr.G was approached by his gardener:

" I have some beautiful tomatoes from my garden to give you..."
"Very kind of you but...we don't cook"replied Mr. G. "Why don't you enjoy them instead"he replied politely hoping that would be that and he could get on with whatever he was doing.

"You don't cook?" asked the suprised gardener. "Well we have some lovely potatos, my wife does a delicious dish with them....I'll bring that over instead"insisted the gardener not getting the finality of the previous sentence uttered by Mr. G.

"No don't bother yourself...really. Enjoy them yourselves!" replied Mr G kindly, insisting with charm and class not wanting to offend the man but now tiring with this repartee.

"Oh! No trouble at all...I'll bring it over tomorrow " satisfied that he had found the compromise, the gardener would finally be able to share his fresh vegetables.But Mr.G unflustered and undeterred firmly replied:

"NO, don't come!"

Don't Shop till You Get Enough...in New York.

So in previous posts I mentioned The Muse Hotel,restaurants and even shared my holiday snap shots...but what of shopping in New York.

Once Upon a Time...shopping in New York was all about : the frenzy! Bloomingdales had hidden treasures only you as the visitor could unearth and the shopping streets were truly paved with golden fashion opportunities....but now?....Not so much.

New York has now also become the victim of :"Everything you can do...I can do better" attitude that London has adopted. All the big US brands are in London and even the ones you could only buy in the States...and the States has now done the same.

Reiss, All Saints have gone Stateside and swamped the market...even bloody Ted Baker is opening on 5th Ave! Just walk around the revamped fashion halls of Bloomingdales's... the British are ever present and frankly,I was bereft and felt like I was in Selfridges. And the same applies to London now: I counted 2 Coach stores, 1 Kate Spade, Club Monaco @HN, my beloved JCrew available on Netaporter and... Rag and Bone soon opening on Sloane Square. Don't even get me started on A&F...

I only want to buy in New York what I can't find in London and frankly...it is getting harder.

So this is why JOE FRESH...is simply that, a breath of fresh air right on 5th Ave....and it is larger than life :

So who is Joe Fresh?

It is the creation of Joe Mimran (Club Monaco) and only available in the States and Canada...YEAY!!!

It was launched in 2006 and was available in certain supermarkets!!! EEK

The fabulous flagship store opened this spring 2012 on 5th Ave. New York and it caught my eye as soon as I walked past it.

At the opening event,Mayor Bloomberg announced that Joe Fresh was:..."the greatest Canadian export since Justin Bieber..." Steady On , Mayor..no need to put us off!

So the clothes:it is a stylish,super affordable brand with bright colours that pop out from the sleek white decor. The shop is spacious and minimalist in order to let the main event:the clothes stand to attention...and believe me they commanded mine from the minute my eyes came to rest on the shop front.

To be honest,I didn't know what to expect with a name like Joe Fresh in orange juice colours...it is COS's brash and bold Stateside cousin with great styles in all sizes for men,women and kids. 

I bought an Equipment style silk shirt in "blush" for 29.99$ and a sleeveless one with orange trim (check out the website) for my sister for a fraction less and less is definitly more at Joe Fresh...more for your buck and that is what makes holiday shopping the best part of your holiday...that special find that everyone is going to ask you about and no one will be able to buy...unless of course they visit New York.

When Life Gives you Lemons...You make Basil Lemonade!

Summer is here!...well almost officially! So pluck the lemons off your trees (I hope to go and pluck some off my friend Janet's...!) and try out this recipe by Recipe Girl...she taught me how to make a great Kumquat marmalade....fun recipes on her website!

Basil Lemonade

BASIL LEMONADE
www.RecipeGirl.com
1 cup water
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup fresh basil leaves
2 cups ice
3 cups water
7.5 oz. container frozen fresh lemon juice, thawed
additional basil leaves for garnish, if desired
1. In a small saucepan, bring 1 cup of water and sugar to a boil over medium heat. Cook until the sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat. Add basil leaves; cover and let stand 30 minutes.
2. Fill a pitcher with 2 cups of ice. Strain the sugar syrup into the pitcher; discard the basil. Stir in 3 cups of water and thawed lemon juice. Pour into glasses and garnish with a fresh basil leaf.

Sounds good,no? Waiting on those lemons, Jan!! :)

How much is that Blender in the Window?...

Due to a moment of carelessness on my part, the glass jug of our blender lay in jagged pieces on the floor....Stupid,stupid,stupid.

We went to buy a new one yesterday...jug,blender and all. We saw the same and decided to go for round 2 with the same one ...at least we'll have spare parts!
I finally spy a sales girl..they are always scarce when you have made your choice and she looks it up on the computer to check availability and  then announces:
"That will be 32€99..."
"But it is listed at 29€99" replied my BF calmly.
"Well the price went up" she replied getting bored with the conversation now.
"When did it go up ?" I ask her.
"Just now...a few minutes ago" she replies a little stupidly.
I crack up laughing in her face: " Just Now!!!"

Obviously the law is on our side on this one...the listed price is the price one is required to pay and so we walked out victorious... with our blender at 29€99.

NYC.... Oui Oui Oui/TOME 2

*CENTRAL PARK:TIME WARNER BUILDINGS*

*NEW YORK SKYLINE FROM CENTRAL PARK*

*ROCKERFELLER PLAZA*

*ROCKERFELLER PLAZA 2*

*LEGO PIECES @ LEGOLAND*

*A WINDOW OF WARHOL @ LEGOLAND*

*OLD LADY FEEDING PIGEONS A LA LEGOLAND*

*FOUNTAIN*

*RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL*

                                                              Boy...I love NEW YORK...don't you?