Big Onion Walking Tours

I am a big dork. I admit this fact. I love to learn, especially about New York. We live in a fascinating city filled with beautiful architecture and an interesting history. Walking tours are my favorite daytime activity. Big Onion leads 2 hour tours of various neighborhoods. History students getting their masters, walk around historic districts and tell you the who, what, why, and where that make up the area. Not only do you learn about your neighborhood, but you can impress you friends as you casually mention that the building to your right was the former home of Aaron Burr.

Big Onion refers to the fact that New York is like an onion. You have to peel back the layers. They are not building any more land (We are an island, duh!), so many famous buildings have been torn down for newer, sleeker structures. My favorite example is Fifth Avenue and 34th Street. The Astor brothers built two fabulous mansions next to each other on this block. You may have heard of Caroline Astor's famous 400. It was a list of 400 elite New Yorkers, and the same number of people she could fit in her ballroom. Everyone was dying to be on the list! Her ballroom was located in her mansion on 5th and 34th. However, as the area became more commercial, people moved uptown. Thus, the glorious mansions were torn down to make way for the first Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. Yep, the one we know today was not the original! But time moved on and this building also met its fate with the wrecking ball. Only to make way for, The Empire State building. It's amazing that this one block has had such a colorful history.

Learn more facts like these on a Big Onion Walking Tour.

http://www.bigonion.com/

Figure out your favorite neighborhood, because I am still searching...

Gracious Home in Chelsea

Every New Yorker knows about Gracious Home. As their moniker attests, "The Best of Everything For Your Home." People living on the Upper East Side have enjoyed it for decades. And us downtown hipsters either had to trek uptown or live without. But no more, Gracious Home is coming to Chelsea.

With all the new developments around Chelsea, the Flatiron, Madison Square Park and the Meatpacking District, there are a lot of new homeowners in the area. Everyone in the downtown area will soon be flocking to the new Gracious Home outpost. Imagine Bed, Bath and Beyond on steroids with better customer service. Need special tiles from Portugal, done! Baskets from Bora Bora, no problem! Reproductions of antique finials, hand-finished by Italian monks. They can handle that!

http://www.gracioushome.com/gh/

Sixth Avenue between 25th and 26th Street

Opens Fall 2008

Until then, I am still searching...

Best Lunch in Tribeca

Columbine, is not only the state flower of Colorado, it is home to the BEST lunch spot in Tribeca. Lines that wrap around the corner only prove that locals agree.


Fresh bread delivered every morning and local produce are staples to this Tribeca take out joint. The menu is inventive with daily specials to keep you from getting bored. But trust me, once you find a favorite, you will dream about it at night. I wake up craving Donald's Famous Smoked Chicken Salad with Lettuce and Tomato on Ciabatta. Or maybe you would prefer Columbine's Jerk Chicken Sandwich with Grilled Red Onions, Mango-Cilantro Relish and Jamaican Hot Sauce or the Tuscan Vegetarian: Italian White Bean Puree with Garlic and Cracked Black Pepper, Red Onions, Oven Dried Tomatoes, Arugula, Shaved Parmesan (or not) on Pizza Bianca. Are you salivating yet? Don't eat your keyboard.

For lighter options, they offer 3 daily soup specials like Sweet Red and Yellow Pepper Puree (veg) or Portuguese Chick Pea with Pancetta, Escarole and Parmesan Garnish. Their salads are packed with veggies and flavor, like the Romaine with Toasted Hazelnuts, Asparagus, Asiago and Champagne-shallot Vinaigrette.

Okay, I think I have tortured you enough. You can thank me after your first bite.

Columbine
229 West Broadway (cross White St.)
212-965-0909
http://www.columbine229.com/index.html
Open for breakfast and lunch.
Delivery and catering available

If you disagree, don't worry. I am still searching...

My Perfect Place

The perfect place is one that makes you feel comfortable. Some place that speaks to some part of your personality. This blog is an attempt to find the perfect place in NYC to live, eat, shop and play. Since the perfect place is subjective, I will keep searching. However, there is one place that I can say with certainty, is perfect for me. My home.

I am one of those lucky New Yorkers who LOVES their apartment. The views and light are amazing. When I walked in for the first time, I just knew it was home. I am on a high floor in a Chelsea building. With corner windows in the living room, kitchen and bedroom, I have northern , eastern, and southern exposures. From my sofa, my current location, I stare at the Empire State building. I love to cook, and my large kitchen satisfies my need for space. I scramble eggs in the morning looking at the Empire State building and Madison Square Park. From my bedroom, I can stare at the Madison Clock Tower (the former Met Life building) and all of downtown. It is comforting at night, when the Madison Clock is lit up, to fall asleep. It feels like it is watching over me. Check out the pics and see for yourself.

I love it! And I am luckily to be in a profession in which I can help others find their dream apartment. Contact me and let me assist in your quest for "the perfect place."

Because as always, I am still searching...