wednesday's words and wanderings and wonderings

Last week we were taking in the sights and sounds of Christmas in New York City. As we settled into the back-home routine on Sunday, Todd asked me what some of my most memorable moments were. One of the moments was a meal at Rezdôra, a small Italian restaurant in the Flatiron neighborhood. The menu celebrates the cuisine of Emilia Romagna and centers around the house-made pasta. As I perused the menu, one item spoke to me, Grandma Walking Through Forest in Emilia. I could not pass that up...it had me at Grandma. The description is cappelletti verde with roasted, sauteed leeks and black mushroom puree. Absolutely delicious.

Other memorable moments include a Chinese foot massage (heavenly), the Macy's windows, the Rockettes 100th Anniversary Christmas Spectacular, the pedal cars blaring "Last Christmas" or "All I Want for Christmas Is You" as they busk to take people for a ride, The Eleven Tears Memorial, and the tradition of having a Manhattan in Manhattan. 

Now it's time to hit the Christmas shopping. The family uses Gift Hero, an online list maker where you go to a person's list, point and click on the items you want to give, and then wait for the gift to arrive at your doorstep. It's so convenient. Some people love to go shopping in the stores. Not me. I don't like being in crowds for too long and I sure don't like the parking lots. So many idiot drivers out there.

The kids have sent Christmas photos of the grandkids. The sweetness of a Christmas photo after telling ChatGPT to make it "Polar Express style" and then the terrified kid on Santa's lap. Everyone will be in Dayton for Christmas. Busy days ahead!

the tree of lights

Dayton's iconic Tree of Light tradition began in 2015 when Dayton History transformed the Deeds Carillon into a 200-foot (60.69 m) light display for the first time. I remember seeing the tree for the first time, how it filled my heart with wonder and joy, and now ten years later it still does.

Last night was a brisk 27° as the sun's last rays set on the horizon. The bells rang Christmas carols - "Silver Bells", "O Christmas Tree" - as a couple with their dog and I strolled around the grounds. Such a moment of peace.

monday's mulling: the remedy and last week's friday feed

Welcome to the Friday Feed on Monday! Yes, it's a few days late and I was going to post it on Friday but it just didn't fit in with all the New York posts. You'll get a double-dose this week. Aren't you thrilled?

One of the joys of working at the farmer's market is the customers like to talk about what they're going to make with their produce purchases. A few years ago a woman came in, went to the field to pick some some cayenne peppers, and bought ten heads of garlic and a large onion. She then asked if we knew where to find fresh horseradish because that was the last ingredient she needed to make "The Remedy."

"The Remedy? Please explain."

The Remedy is an old recipe from her great-grandma which had been passed down to her via her mom and is touted as a home remedy to help ward off winter colds, flu cases, and could help settle the stomach. Today one of the names this concoction is known by is fire cider but I like The Remedy. It's a natural, old-fashioned tonic that has been passed down through generations. A couple weeks later she brought a copy of the recipe in and a sample for us to taste. Read the instructions. It is an old recipe. "Start on the first day of new moon. Shake everyday. Strain through cheese cloth on day of full moon." In other words, let it steep for two weeks.

Each of the ingredients has health benefits:

Ginger - aids digestion, reduces nausea and inflammation, and provides antioxidant protection. 

Cayenne pepper: the capsacin boosts metabolism to aid weight loss, reduces pain, supports cardiovascular health, improves digestion, provides beneficial antioxidants, vitamins C and A, and other nutrients such as B6, K, potassium, and magnesium.

Garlic: antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.

Horseradish: supports digestion, boosts the immune system, fights inflammation, and clears nasal congestion.

Onions: support heart health, boost the immune system, improve gut and bone health, and contain compounds that help reduce inflammation, fight bacteria, lower "bad" cholesterol, and regulate blood pressure. 

Before the farm closed for the season, I went to the field and picked some cayenne peppers and bought some garlic and an onion. I couldn't find fresh horseradish so I bought a jar of St. Elmo's coarse cut horseradish. It cleared my sinuses when I took a whiff!

And, per the recipe's instructions, on the day of the new moon, October 21, one-by-one I put each ingredient in my food processor to chop them up. The cayennes made my eyes burn, as did the onion, the garlic packed a punch, and the ginger smelled so fresh. I dumped each ingredient in a gallon jar and poured 3+ bottles of Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar over those fiery flavors. 14 days later on November 3, The Remedy was ready to be strained. 

After waking up, I put a couple tablespoons of this potent potion in a large glass, fill it with water, and sometimes add a touch of honey to take away the bite. Cheers!

Vinegar’s sharp bite

Garlic, ginger, onion, heat

Health in every drop.

chasing the sunset

"Never go too long without watching a sunset." ~ Atticus

The flight attendant announced that there was no wifi on the flight so...

We are two weeks from the Winter Solstice and the daylight hours grow shorter. Our flight left New York at 4:30 p.m. (16:30) as the sun was setting. Planes fly between 500 and 650 mph, so east-west sunset flights beautifully prolong twilight, and I was lucky to be in the window seat to watch the sun set above the clouds for the entire one and a half hours flight. 

The sunset started out subtly over the New York skyline and then...

POW...a burst of fiery brightness.

Westward, ho.

The last view of the sunset as the plane descended into the clouds and landed in the darkness in Columbus.

 

new york city state of mind

Sparkle, whimsey, and a touch of solemnity yesterday.

Hudson Yard, a high-end shopping mall, is beautiful any time of year but during Christmas it gets its sparkle on from top to bottom, everywhere you look. 

Some fun for the little ones (big people, too!). These toys just arrived on South Oculus Plaza. "REWIND,"  is an exhibition of six new large-scale public art sculptures by the New York-born contemporary artist WhIsBe. The installation blends fun, whimsy and bold design in a way that invites visitors to pause, look up and reconnect with a sense of play.

One World Trade Center gives one time to reflect on the events of 9/11/2001 and to hope for the future. At the 9/11 Memorial, white roses are the standard tribute, placed daily on victims' names for their birthdays to symbolize remembrance and purity, but red roses are sometimes left by visitors as a personal gesture of love, and remembrance for specific individuals, honoring their life and loss, often alongside the official white roses.

Just around the corner from the 9/11 Memorial and World Trade Center towers is an installation found in the AmEx building. Eleven Tears is a graceful and elegant tribute to the 11 American Express employees who died on September 11, 2001.
 
The installation consists of an 11-sided, 600-pound piece of natural Brazilian quartz that resembles a gigantic tear. This “tear” is set in a steel ring suspended from a 35-foot-high ceiling by 11 cables, and hovers over an 11-sided black granite fountain with the names of the employees etched into the granite, along with five words or phrases that describe the person. Drops of water gently fall like tears over these inscriptions.

The Rockefeller Center tree is now lit and will shine for New York City and all its visitors through mid-January 2026. The tree lighting was this past Wednesday and it was complete and utter mayhem in the blocks around the plaza. We stayed away on Wednesday but caught views on Thursday and Friday nights. It really is a beautiful beacon for the city that never sleeps.

 

city sidewalks, busy sidewalks

City sidewalks, busy sidewalks, dressed in holiday style...

Wow, 60 years of "A Charlie Brown Christmas." It's a holiday favorite.

Another pretty  Christmas tree along Fifth Avenue.

Pete's Tavern, New York's oldest  continuously operating tavern and bar in NYC.  Every year on November 1, the owner begins decorating the tavern. It's Christmas on steroids.

And while at Pete's, one must try its seasonal special, homemade eggnog.

A Christmas tree grows in Gramercy Park. The Chrysler Building with its pretty Art Deco architecture is in the background illuminated by the sunset. 

The Waldorf Hotel has been closed for a few years but has now re-opened. It's been beautifully refurbished and it's so nice to see the clock still in its lobby.

 

wednesday's words and wanderings and wonderings

New York City or bust! After a two hour delay the plane was in the air and landed at rain-drenched JFK. Yes, it's time for a dose of holiday magic in the Big Apple.

A new New York adventure - taking the bus from LaGuardia to the Jackson Heights train station and  catching the F train to Rockefeller Center. The bus ride was free, the train fare was $3.00. What a bargain vs. the Uber, Lyft, or taxi fares. You don't have the convenience of a driver handling your luggage but all I had was a small suitcase and a backpack so easy peasy.

The Rockefeller Center tree will be lit tonight. The crowds will be horrendous and we will stay away until Friday. People are already claiming their space for the tree lighting. Luckily it's a sunny day to hang out as the minutes tick away.

Holiday lights and decorations are already sparkling and bringing a festive spirit to the streets. The reflections from the rain are a bonus.

I took a stroll down Avenue of the Americas to meet my daughter after she was done with work .The walk-through tree...what a fun way for people who work at the building to start their work day. Lots of pedestrians walk through it, too. I did!