Music for the Children

I'd like to spend a little bit of time recognizing one of my favorite New York charities, the Orchestra of St. Luke's.  Many people know OSL as one of premier orchestras in the world but fewer people know about their amazing contributions to Arts Education.

The Orchestra of St. Luke's Founded its Education Program for New York City over thirty years ago, reaching out to all students, especially underprivileged ones.  The program is based off music as a medium of expression, involving "sound, movement, visual art, theatre and writing activities."  Many arts education programs encompass a variety of art forms, but the thing that makes OSL's program so special is that they are able to focus on one form so that students may become better versed in one area and experience it on a deeper level. 

Visit www.oslmusic.org to learn more about this amazing organization!

Let's Get Brunch!

Most people are used to socializing with one another over dinner but one of the best (and most economical!) ways to spend time with friends is over a classic brunch. A brunch get-together is ideal for many reasons, including the fact there is a breakfast food for everyone! Pancakes, eggs, muffins, yogurt and waffles can all be easily tailored to fit a person’s tastes. Try the Popeye eggs at Sarabeths or the biscuits at Bubby's, two of my favorite brunch dishes. Whether you make a special brunch at home or go out, spending time together during the daylight hours has a special charm.

My favorite brunch accent is my signature “pimosa” – a mimosa with pineapple juice instead of orange juice. Try it at your next brunch with the classic eggs and bacon breakfast. Sometimes those simple breakfast foods are all you need for a delicious meal with friends!

Sarabeth's

Bubby's

Leave a comment and let me know your favorite ways to spice up the classic breakfast foods!

Give Me S'more Summer!

With the end of the summer quickly approaching I would like to share my final summer gift. One of my favorite things to do in the summer is enjoy a warm fire with friends along with some great snacks. For this Labor Day weekend a great gift to bring as a house guest is a s'mores gift basket. There is no need to get fancy when putting together this present - the classics work the best – Hershey’s chocolate in three varieties (classic, with almonds, and special dark) and Honey Maid graham crackers. At Whole Foods I have found these great square shaped marshmallows that easily stay on the cracker. Be sure to include marshmallow forks so your friends can avoid the disappointing marshmallow-in-the-fire scenario. Cascade Outfitters has great color-coded forks so there is no confusion about whose fork is whose. With the temperature beginning to decrease this inexpensive gift is fun for everyone to enjoy while also staying warm!

Marshmallow Forks
Cascade Outfitters
$7.95

Square Marshmallows
Whole Foods Market
or
DeBrand Fine Chocolates
$6.25 a bag

Grahmn Craker and Hershey's Chocolate
Found at any grocery store

It's Your Library

One of my favorite not-for-profit institutions is the New York Public Library. (If you look at my Portfolio on this website you can see some of the events we’ve done for them!) One of the ways I draw inspiration is from perusing through countless numbers of books. Whether I get wrapped up in a character’s life or in a beautiful illustration, I always find food for thought in any book.

Reading is important, and New York understands that: More people visit NYC’s public libraries each year than all of its cultural institutions and sporting events combined. In this day and age, where computers are the source of most reading material, it’s heartwarming to think that the Library provides a public space for visitors to enjoy its extensive collection.

Every city has a public library, and whether you use it for its books or other resources, it’s truly a remarkable place. And better yet – it’s free! Make sure to support your local library so that future generations can enjoy the same books you do today.

www.nypl.org

Homemade Pita Chips and Hummus

With a growing focus on organic and wholesome foods, hummus is becoming more popular. Usually paired with a pita chips, hummus can be used as an appetizer, dip or put on top of falafel, grilled chicken or eggplant.

Next time you are entertaining, try out these recipes for homemade pita chips and hummus!

Pit Chips:

- 12 Pita Pockets

- 1/2 Cup Olive Oil

- 1 Teaspoon Salt

- 1/2 Teaspoon of Basil

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Cut each pita into triangles. Mix oil salt, pepper and basil in a small bowl.  Glaze each pita with mixture.  Bake in oven for approximately 6 minutes. Watch carefully because they crisp and burn fast!

Hummus:

- 30 oz. of Chickpeas

- 2/3 cups of tahini

- 1/3 cup of lemon juice

- 1/4 cup of olive oil

- 1/2 teaspoon of salt

- 4 garlic cloves

- 1/2 cup water

Pine nuts/parsley if you want

Blend garlic, chickpeas, lemon juice, oil and water then add salt. Chill and serve.

It's simple, easy and tastes great!

The Gift of Convenience

With the large workload in schools, colleges and offices alike, it’s a wonder that anyone ever has time to themselves. With students going back to school I thought we should give some attention to this great digital reader.

Both Sony and Amazon make digital readers: the Digital Reader Book and the Kindle. You can fit over one hundred books on the reader at the same time – so instead of carrying around heavy books in your bag you can carry the digital reader and have access to your entire library!

A digital reader allows you to read wherever – on the bus, on the subway, in a waiting room – without worrying about which book you remembered to bring from home.

If you know a student or close friend who is always looking for time to get their work done, the digital reader is a great gift. They’ll appreciate the gift and the extra time for reading!

Preserving the Past: Part II

It is easy to think of history in terms of what has happened centuries ago, but it’s important to recognize, consider, and preserve our recent past as well. In nearby New Canaan, Connecticut, Philip Johnson designed a Glass House, which was erected in 1949. The house, with its exterior being made entirely of glass, was a marvel of the time. It inspired greater architectural experimentation and talk about modern architecture.

Declared a national historic landmark in 1997, the house was donated to the National Trust for Historic Preservation following Johnson’s death in 2005, and is now open for tours. The house is located on Johnson’s property in New Canaan. Look around the Glass House website, http://www.philipjohnsonglasshouse.org/ for more information about tours and about the ways in which you can support this architectural marvel.