First BBQ of the Season

Erik and I cleaned out our cement garden this weekend. With a clean backyard and beautiful weather I thought it was time to crack open the BBQ. I picked up some salmon burgers from Whole Foods, a couple side dishes, and also grilled some mushrooms. I discovered a great brand of charcoal that uses the bag to light the coals. Dubbed the "Green Way to Grill," this cuts down on lighter fluid which is harmful for the environment. Summer BBQs: BRING IT ON

 

Monday in the Park

Monday was the best weather we've had in NYC this season--perfect for Memorial Day. We spent the day in the Sheep's Meadow at Central Park. Erik and I met up with my friend Mike and his crew and Erik's friend Noelle and her friends. Mike and I had a great game of Travel Scrabble (I let Mike win by 40 points). After several hours of sun we went to a great Mexican restaurant and had drinks and dinner. What a great way to spend Memorial Day!
 

Top of the Rock

Visitor weekend #3 just ended today. Erik's friend John was visiting from Oregon and we had a great time showing him around the city. Although I have lived here for two years now, I was able to have a few new touristy experiences. First, I had never been inside Grand Central Station. I've never been at the base of the Chrysler Building (I've seen the trade mark silver top many times). We took John to the "Top of the Rock"--the observation deck at the top of Rockefeller Center. The views were impressive:
 

London (shut) Eye

I had a long evening of walking around and now its time for bed! After three hours of walking around, I ended up at the London Eye and took some cool night shots. Luckily my hotel wasn't too far away because I was tired!
 

Street Art @ Tate Modern

Like many photographers, I enjoy taking pictures of graffiti (and there's usually an unlimited supply in Brooklyn). When I was in London in December I took some great shots of an area where any artist can spray their art on public walls. The Tate Modern now has a current exhibit on the exterior walls of the museum called "Street Art." Here's one of the six artists:

 

Parent's Visit

My parents made it to New York for Mother's Day. We spent the weekend doing some fun touristy things. Friday night, we went to Birdland, a jazz dinner club. We had some drinks and appetizers while listening to the club's happy hour Big Band. After that, we had dinner with Erik at one of our favorite restaurants in Chelsea, Rocking Horse. Saturday we walked around Central Park, which was much nicer than our brief walk in the Park the last time my parents were here in August when it was 95 degrees and humid. Saturday night we saw Curtains, a musical starring David Hyde Pierce, of Frasier fame. Sunday we met my parents up at Rockefeller Center after they went to mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral. We had a stroll down Fifth Ave and saw the Empire State Building and relaxed for a bit in Madison Sq Park by the Flatiron Building. We headed back to Williamsburg, had some drinks at Spike Hill Irish Bar and then took a stroll along the W'burg shore.

 

On to November

Stupid Elite Economists

Remember a time when economists mattered:



I'll go with Clinton in 1992, not the 2008 "economists are elite" Clinton