As a New Year approaches

NEW YORK – Tavern on the Green, once America's highest-grossing restaurant, is singing its culinary swan song.
The former sheepfold at the edge of Central Park, now ringed by twinkling lights and fake topiary animals, is preparing for New Year's Eve, when it will serve its last meal. Just three years ago, it was plating more than 700,000 meals annually, bringing in more than $38 million...

for the rest of the story go to

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091230/ap_on_bi_ge/us_tavern_on_the_green
I mention this article from yahoo news because I remember being taken there by my mother-in-law, Madeline, for a brunch type meal many years ago and I have very fond memories. I believe Janet, Madeline and myself went...it was a beautiful day out and I had pancakes with cooked apple slices on top. At least that is what I remember. So another landmark is gone I only hope it is replaced with an equally elegant restaurant.

Merry Christmas 09

I want to take this quiet moment to say that I wish everyone who may read this post a very Happy Christmas as people in Europe put it or Merry Christmas from Happy Valley! I do wish everyone a very merry holiday season; we need to live in the future and not get bogged down in the past, unfortunately, I tend to regress over the holidays. I recently remembered one of my last Christmas Eve meals spent in my parent's home it was just before our big Christmas Eve feast. The dining table was set with our best Chrystal and China, the dinner’s ingredients were finishing while I was upstairs lying on my bed. I was dressed for dinner and I could hear the fireplace crackling while songs of Christmas were playing on the stereo. Hors d'Oeuvres were set out in silver bowls around the living room just waiting to be devoured. Snow was falling outside as a crisp wind whipped past the windows making you very glad you were inside. I was still concentrating this night, trying to hold Christmas from coming because all the evening’s magic would be over for another year. As my mind wondered- Mom called from downstairs, "Karen dinner is ready come down everyone is here...” I don't hear the rest because I know the evening festivities would not wait. This would be the last Christmas Eve I would spend in my parent’s home as a child. I would return many more times but only as a guest not as a young girl lying on her bed trying to hold adulthood and Christmas from coming.
That instance was one of my most cherished moments. Our house was boisterous with seven children, two parents, for ever changing grouping of aunts and uncles along with grandparents. I never really appreciated the chaos and love that was around that table. My Mother was a genius to carry the load of all our happiness on her shoulders with such grace and ease.
Merry Christmas!
For posterity Liz is in Japan with James, Lee, Annica & Metta ...enjoy enjoy!

A Quick Christmas Memory

This is a memory from the year 1994 and then 2007 so enjoy...just wanted to get you in the mood for the Holiday Season.

Merry Christmas

Make a Smilebox photobook

You can see Brian's Art in Miami

The Basel Art Show in Miami is making alot of news on NPR and other Art blogs so check some of them out. If you go inside the camper Brian's Art is hanging inside the Camper's door. Brian also has an Art's statement so explore.

http://www.campercontemporary.com/index.html

The following is another article about Art Basel

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120977973

this deals with the Camper project

http://www.mica.edu/News/MICA_Students_Head_to_Art_Basel_Miami_Beach_in_Converted_Camper_Contemporary_Dec_3-6.html

The Girl Effect

I saw this on the Oprah Show and feel it is so important; Women need to be cherished by all societies. Women are an important part of our human race. That sounds simple but if you read, a book called "Half Sky,” you will see that women on this planet are not respected. Please spread the word because I feel the women of our family have showed everyone how capable women can be so we just need to spread the word.
Please check out this sites.
Oprah site goes into details to please do some reading

http://www.youtube.com/user/girleffect

http://www.oprah.com/article/world/globalissues/20090901-tows-prudence-maternal-mortality