Can't wait...

Today is the DAY


Is anyone waiting for the new iPhone to debut, like I am?

                               I know it's crazy and materialistic but I can't help myself...



I had the iPhone original #1 in 2007,  then skipped the next two,  but upgraded to the

iPhone 4, then passed on the 4s because it wasn't offering much in new features.... BUT...

now I really want to get the iPhone 5.



I hate that the launch is at Pacific Time (10 am),  that just means I have to wait all morning my time, Eastern Standard Time.  The rumors are rampant...like always...so I just want to know, NOW!

After the announcement,  the WAIT begins.....you know....put in the order as soon as possible....sometimes, they can't handle the onslaught of callers.....then, more waiting.

           Even MORE waiting, as it takes time to fill the orders, like at least 2 weeks minimum.

                                     ENOUGH!   I can't take much more of this....


                                                             By the way,

                                      have I said how much I like the  iPhone?


+++  I just read that they are expecting 75% of iPhone users to upgrade to the iPhone 5.....wow....can they handle that amount?             $$$$$$$ for Apple, Inc.

+++  Did you know that the iPhone alone is bigger than all of Microsoft....now that blew my mind.


                   Well,  I just had to get this out, it's helping me pass the time while I wait.

                                                       
                                                      Will you be getting the 5?

                                                                       Mem

Prune

Most people don't like prunes, but this Prune I'm sure everyone would love.


Prune, the restaurant, in NYC,  is fabulous.  The owner/chef is Gabrielle Hamilton of recent fame for her best selling book,  Blood, Bones and Butter.  The book is predominately about her life as far as food has influenced her.  She's a good writer and has had an interesting life.

She opened the restaurant in 1999 and it has remained at the same location with continued great food and a loyal following.  I ate lunch there a week and a half ago...it was very good.  I chose  a pea dish as my first course which was made with 3 kinds of peas in a little bit of a vegetable stock topped with a sliver of honeycomb. YUM! It was all about the freshness of the peas with the honey highlighting their natural sweetness.  My main dish was a perfectly braised brisket in tomato sauce with crispy fries that were tossed with parsley and Parmesan cheese. That was superb.  The meat was cooked just right, so tender without falling apart or dry, and sliced very thinly. 

the peas were freshness at their finest

this was fabulous...very tender and tasty

ready to begin

Gabrielle is known for the way she prepares sweetbreads. I love sweetbreads but they were not on the menu when I was there.  Click here for a video of the chef.

More videos   This one is with Anthony Bourdain.  This is the 2nd of 3 videos he did with her. I found these on YouTube.

Here's a long interview with Gabrielle about the book.


If you want a delicious meal,  make a trip to Prune.  If you are looking for a good read,  find the book.
 I recommend both!


Enjoy!

Mem

NYC Trip

I'm finding it very hard to get back to writing....but promised myself to get on with it.



A few years ago, my roommate from college and I got reunited with each other, it had been 40+ years since we had last touched base.  We're both pretty much the same, so all went well.

She was the first person I had gone to NYC with....we went there for a week just before we were to start our sophomore year at MSU...now many years later, we return for a week of fun each August.

We meet at the hotel I found online, each of us flying in from different cities in the U.S.  I got there an hour before her, and to my delighted surprise, was informed that our room was upgraded to a suite!  Wow...and no extra costs.  We loved our previous room because it was so big,  even had a fully equipped kitchen and located in a quiet area on E. 56th St. at Park. 

The new room/suite was every bit as nice as the other one, but now we had 2 bathrooms and a huge living room.  I'm not sure why we got upgraded, but I liked that we were.

Living Room

Entrance Hall

Living Room

This year we saw just two Broadway plays,  Newsies  and  Peter and the Star Catchers.  Last year we tried to get in 4 plays, and we did, but it was a bit much in a week's visit.  Last year we saw, Memphis,  Jersey Boys, War Horse,  and  Sister Act...all were terrific. 

My friend is a singer and voice-over talent with her own kids' theater school in SF.  She trained the boy who is the voice of Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story.  (He's now a grown man who lives in NYC.)  We might have lunched with him, but he was out of town.  Each year we lunch with another one of her former students who is acting in plays and still looking for her big break.  I hope it comes sooner than later for her.....she's a super nice young lady...best of luck to you, Rebecca!

We do the 'usual' things while there...plays, shopping, art museums, and eating at new (to us) good restaurants.  This year's places didn't disappoint! hint: one of them was the winner of the James Beard Award in 2011 and the owner/chef has a best selling book on the booklists.  I'll go into some of them in later posts.

The 'out of the usual' thing we did this year was to go to an "open mic" place so Judy could sing...she does this often in SF.  I wasn't sure about it at first, but the whole scene was lots of fun.  We met many super people from all over, and the ones who got up to sing were terrific.  No doubt, we'll return next year.

I love NYC. 


Mem