Secret hideouts, untold pleasures...

The good thing about having very few (read: no) readers for your blog is that I can talk all I want about these little known fun things to do/see/eat (because I need to talk about them to someone, anyone) and still have them be my little secrets. Yay!
So

Secret Fun thing #1 : I have indulged myself in this all summer - my saturday morning jaunt to the small french deli right across from where we live in Greenwich. They are a less expensive sister establishment of a larger french restaurant two streets down. Their menu changes every week. Theirs is, I reckon, a triumph of few but perfect ingredients. Among their many goodies I love the perfectly crunchy baguettes straight out of the oven generously layered with freshly made raspberry/strawberry/blueberry jams - demolished within seconds of being within reach or the omlet with ham, comte cheese and caramelized onions sprinkled with herbs and served with a side of baby arugula, or their decadent, creamy, deliciously flavoured Quiches that ooze with goodness as you crunch into variously colored veggies that top it, or their apple strudels, danishes, rich and dark chocolate mousses - delicacies to be savored with coffee over the weekend edition of New York Times, and to be remembered until next Saturday(when I get to savour them again). That's my corner deli that serves, amongst everything else, as a reminder that all is well with the world.

Secret Fun thing #2 : The Long Islang City bar on Summer/Fall Sundays. Not that I am complaining, but I have no idea why so little is known about this. Few open air bars in the city have drink specials, live bands through the afternoon, an unspoilt 1880's saloon look AND a beautiful, lady like willow tree that stands tall as its several long, lazy branches arch over each and every window of the bar while the rays of the afternoon sun and gentle fall breeze collectively create a dance of leafy shadows on the yellow pages of your book. Peace is this. And a tall glass of chilled beer.

Secret Fun thing #3 : Watching the first rays of the sun at the eastern most point of the United States. It feels like you're at the edge of the earth : The vast forests extending all over the earth give in to steep cliffs before the vast expanse of the Atlantic engulfs you in its overwhleming beauty and enormous power of being the be-all and end-all of life - until, ofcourse, the sun rises over the horizon - assured of its might, permanent in its being. The buck stops here - in this small, quiet, sleepy little town of Lubec, Maine.

Brand New Year

Voila- say hello to the shiny brand new year...we did so in an annoying establishment on the lower east side. Dirty, noisy and completely unnecessary establishment full of people who travelled across several bridges and tunnels to get here.

Anyway, in more pleasant thoughts, I also have a shiny new laptop (this one is literally shiny), which is now sporting that heavenly view of the ocean that we had from our cottage in Maui.AG bought me this in a masterstroke attempt to rid himself of my pesky presence around him while he surfs on the desktop looking for cool music,restaurants,trivia etc..Brilliant. I would do exactly that.

Also among new discoveries, we discovered a tiny restaurant in Soho called Ruby's with white brick walls, a pleasant but strange painting, long unpolished wooden tables and long benches to go with the tables, a boho waitress, and get this-the best dessert we have had in a looong time.Warm cake made of dates served with caramel sauce,strawberries and whipped cream-heavenly. We had one of those moments-when you pop your food in, and it melts in your mouth and you shut your eyes, and smile with the exquisite culinary pleasure that this yummy peice of food has contributed to your existence.... This be it - http://www.rubyscafe.us/

Right now the other half and I are lamenting the end of the holidays, and I am savouring my last few leisurely hours on the couch wrapped in my beige throw , looking like a pet.Sad, really. Anyway Happy New Year..