First of all, let me start by saying that it’s been way too long since I’ve taken the time to sit down and write… again. The past five months have been absolutely crazy — between family and friends, new jobs and new offices, travel and some health issues, I’m just finally slowing down enough to catch my breath. And to finally take some time to re-work and re-launch this blog.
This week, I found myself in New York City for part of the 59th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations. The event brings together representatives from Member States, UN entities, and ECOSOC-accredited non-governmental organizations from around the world. This year’s event focused on the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, addressing progress that’s been made since its implementation 20 years ago, and challenges that still affect gender equality and the empowerment of women. While the full Commission runs for two weeks, my schedule only allowed for me to attend for three days, but having the opportunity to meet women from around the world and discuss issues of gender equality, sexual violence and other major issues that women face was truly inspiring… and incredibly humbling.
While the primary focus of my trip was on the Commission, it’s impossible to make a trip to New York City and not find some time to enjoy and explore. On the first day of my trip, we were blessed with amazing weather and an afternon of sunshine, so I carved out a few hours and spent some time in the village (which may be my favorite part of the city, at this point). While wandering Bleecker Street, I found my way to Carre d’artiste, an amazing little gallery that offers a collection of contemporary art. I was immediately captivated by two artists — Tony Blomme, a Belgian artist who creates beautiful depictions of everyday life in NYC with watercolors, and Daniel Castan, a French painter who creates multi-textured pieces that capture the urban landscape of the city. I could have easily picked up several pieces yesterday, but managed to restrain myself (and save my bank account, at least for the time being).
After getting a little lost in art in the gallery, I wandered down Carmine Street to another favorite spot of mine, House of Oldies Rare Records. This place is SO fun! The owner, Bob, is an absolute gem. He’s run the place since the late 1960’s and today carries more than 1,000,000 records (what a DREAM!). I stumbled into this place a few visits back and make it a point to stop in each time I’m in the city. It’s a really tiny space, but I could easily spend an afternoon digging through crates of old records and chatting with Bob about the store’s history, his music knowledge and baseball (even though he’s a Yankee fan).
After more window shopping and a stop for coffee, I swung through Washington Square Park on my way back uptown. There was filming going on for something — sadly, I couldn’t get close enough to see what — and where was quite a crowd of people gathered to see what was going on. While I couldn’t necessarily see what was happening in front of the cameras, it was still a perfect afternoon to grab a bench and just enjoy my coffee in the sunshine.
A few other NYC favorites include:
1. Don Antonio’s Pizza in the Theatre District (try the Marinara Starita or the Margherita for dinner and the Bella Mora to drink)
2. Cibo in Murray Hill. Try the swordfish for dinner, and be sure to save room for dessert!
3. Aroma Espresso Bar in Midtown. Cool spot, great coffee and reasonable prices.
4. Docks Oyster Bar in Midtown. Amazing happy hour, fun bartenders and a really great atmosphere.
What are some of your favorite places in the city?
Life & Love 