On my recent trip to San Antonio and Austin, I came across this sign. San Antonio is a place that has so many incongruities.
It is quite confusing that Texas is essentially Trump Country, yet 63% of San Antonio's population is Hispanic or Latino. This is the largest majority-Hispanic city in America (as of 2010). How can this group who makes up over half of San Antonio be Trumpsters? He wants to build a wall and keep them from coming into the U.S. AND he wants to send the immigrants who have been living here for years, who pay taxes, and who lead productive lives with jobs back to their countries.
Next, as I drove on the highway from Austin to San Antonio, I witnessed so many billboards advertising AR 15's, gun clubs, and gun stores. In this city founded by friars and named for a saint, you then see religious billboards posted intermittently between the AR 15 signs. God loves you; Think God; After you die, You WILL meet God, etc. Basically, you are inundated at every turn with these Christian signs.
So, what I need to know is why these religious "Christian" God loving people are also loving guns, hating immigrants, and hating many other groups in our society? How can they possibly want a President who builds walls, perpetrates a culture of meanness, hate, divisiveness, bullying, abuses women, and would rather appease the NRA than choose to keep our children and schools safe? With that being said, I will tell you I didn't care for San Antonio. And maybe the above reasons are why.
Those aside, I will tell you a few things I did like in the Seventh largest city of America.
Of course, see the Riverwalk which is lovely between the hours of 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. This is the time you should choose to walk along the banks of the San Antonio River. It is beautiful, peaceful, and tourist free. By noon, the restaurants are booming with tourists and you can barely move-UGH, not for me. Next, Remember to go to The Alamo which was the location of a battle where Texans fought for independence against Mexicans ( the Mexicans finally overpowered them) until they gained independence in 1836, walk through the King William Neighborhood which has beautiful historic homes from the Antebellum Period through Post WWII Era, Visit the San Antonio Zoo which is fabulous. Finally, the only place to stay is Hotel Emma in The Pearl District. This is a beautiful boutique hotel with an awesome bar and the restaurants in The Pearl District area surrounding the hotel are fun too.
Next stop, Austin. The SXSW Conference was happening while we there so it was a bit insane. The slogan in this city, which is absolutely beautiful, is Keep Austin Weird. Be prepared to party-it's a very happening town. I loved the food, the diversity, the music, the bats-it was all FUN!
The buildings downtown are architecturally magnificent, so walk around and look up. The state capitol building is worth a trip-and take the tour. It is both fascinating and beautiful. Go to the LBJ Library and the Ladybird Wildlife Conservatory (only if flowers are in bloom)-the library was so informative and interesting. Skip the Zoo-it is chicken wire with a few rescued animals and truly a sad spot. Go to the bars on 6th Street-We loved Pete's Dueling Piano Bar; and Shop on SoCo (south of Congress) which has a few cute boutiques. But, my most favorite moment in Austin was watching the bats emerge from underneath the Ann W. Richards Congress Ave. Bridge. This happens at dusk-and it is quite a sight. As they emerge they fly into the sky and the sky literally becomes a mass of black. Totally cool. Must be amazing on Halloween Night.
A couple of restaurant recommendations: Bouldin Creek Café for breakfast or lunch, Forthright for lunch, Juniper is a pretty spot with good food for dinner, and Fonda San Miguel for traditional Mexican on your last night. And do not miss all the food trucks for bbq and lots of other yummy street food.
O.K. - still feel like dancing when you get back to N.J.? I know of 3 places:
The Dome at The Manor-there is a rooftop bar and lounge. They have a Happy Hour from 5:30 -7:00 p.m. They serve bar food from 6-10:30p,m. and a D.J. from 9p.m.-2a.m.
Par 440-D.J. on Saturdays from 9:30p.m.-2a.m. $5 Martinis for Ladies!
Verona Inn-Bar food and Sat. nights a D.J. or live music.
Not in the mood to dance? Go for Ice Cream or Desserts at:
Sweet Kitchen-533 Bloomfield Ave. Montclair. Pastries, cakes, cookies.
Dairy Air-521 Bloomfield Ave. Montclair. Nitro infused ice cream. flaming ice cream sandwiches. Try Peppermint Fanny or Peanut Butt'r Booty.
Gelotti-571 Bloomfield Ave. Montclair. Try the Cookie Monster, Banana Oreo, Rice Pudding or the Maple Bourbon.
Until next time-peace out. One B
Wednesday, March 21, 2018
Saturday, March 3, 2018
So much information swirling in my mind. Notes are scattered everywhere. And today is the perfect weather to hang home and send you all my thoughts. First off are my Oscar Predictions. I have seen all the movies! Let's place bets on Faye and Warren making an encore presentation Sunday night-I'm betting yes, for sure. It should be hilarious.
Best Picture: Hard to pick between Three Billboards and The Shape of Water, but I'll go with Three Billboards.
Best Director: Guillermo Del Toro for The Shape of Water. Beautifully shot and brilliantly done. And, Sally Hawkins is equally deserving of the Best Actress Award. But....
Best Actress: Frances McDormand will win over Sally Hawkins, I think.
Best Actor: Truthfully, I did not think Gary Oldman was that great in Darkest Hour. I have watched John Lithgow in The Crown on Netflix, and I felt his performance as Churchill was truly amazing. I was not wowed by Oldman or The Darkest Hour. So my pick is Timothy Chalamet in Call Me By Your Name.
However, Oldman WILL get the Oscar.
Best Supporting Actress: Hands down Allison Janney should win for I, Tonya. And I think she will, but Laurie Metcalf was awesome as the mom in Ladybird.
Best Supporting Actor: Sam Rockwell in Three Billboards. This was my favorite performance this year. He was spectacular. Hands down-The Best.
Further thoughts: I saw The Post and Phantom Thread. Although The Post was entertaining, it was not deserving as a Best Picture Nominee. What can I say about Phantom Thread? It could be tied as the worst movie I have seen since Stormy Monday in 1988 with Sting and Melanie Griffith; and the original Flatliners in 1990 with Julia Roberts and Kiefer Sutherland. Horrendous.
OK-Where to eat before the Oscars...
Osteria Giotto Cafe-Church St. Montclair. Salads, Soups, Pastas, Sandwiches to go. Parking is tough and especially if you are only running in to pickup your takeout. Known for their Lasagna.
Woodstack -Pine Brook. Haven't been, but have heard great things. Charred Pizzas, Delicious breads, and pastas. Supposedly a nice Sunday brunch menu. Full bar. Can't wait to try!
Giovanni's-Berkley Heights. Recommended highly for dinner. Make a reservation and give it a try.
Mezze-New Mediterranean in Livingston. Menu has lots of delicious options. Open for Lunch and Dinner.
Assado-New Portuguese Steakhouse in Livingston. Exterior looks lovely. Once inside it's a bit institutional. Food was mediocre and prices seemed high. Not a great combination.
Honey's-Fairfield. Tiny dive with delicious fresh food. Great for breakfast and lunch. Loved it!
Satis Bistro-Bloomfield. This town is having a major resurgence. Little restaurants are popping up near the train station and the new apartments. Essex Junction started the trend. Satis has a lovely menu, a great bar, and good food.
Marcus Samuelson's B & P-Newark. A very interesting menu and a great chef. Hopefully, this restaurant will draw lots of patrons. Looks fabulous.
Zeugma Grill-Montclair. Lovely Mediterranean menu with a wine bar. A bit pricey on the entrees, but you can go and order a few appetizers. Brunch, Lunch, Dinner.
Zaferon Grill-Verona. New Persian/Mediterranean restaurant. Interesting kebabs, flatbreads, burgers and entrees. BYOB.
Noble East-Montclair. Delicious, fresh Chinese food. More expensive than most other Chinese restaurants but white glove service, hot spa scented towels and lovely presentations make it worth the price. Known for Peking Duck. Give T.S. Ma a break and try this!
Closed-Above in South Orange. And Al Sogna in Montclair. Stay tuned-new restaurants coming to both locations.
Places on my NYC List that I want to try:
Upland-345 Park Ave. South
Pasquale Jones-187 Mulberry Street
Don Angie-103 Greenwich Avenue
Petee's Pie Company-61 Delancey Street
Underwest Donuts-638 West 47th Street at 12th Avenue
What to watch on Television, and What to Read, and Who to Listen to
Mozart in the Jungle-Amazon. This series grew on me. I didn't love the first few episodes, but ultimately it was a joy to watch. Gael Garcia Bernal and Malcolm McDowell are spectacular. And lots of classical music is a major bonus.
Last Tango in Halifax-Netflix or Amazon. Romantic Comedy about two widowed childhood sweethearts.
Man in High Castle-Amazon. Based on Philip Dick's novel. About what the world would look like if WWII had a different outcome.
The Looming Tower-Hulu. Starring Jeff Daniels and Alec Baldwin. Middle East Politics and Islamic terrorists.
Coming June 1st- A book by first time author, Fatima Farheen Mirza, called A Place For Us. This is published by Hogarth who just partnered with Sara Jessica Parker. They search for new authors and books that will knock your socks off. I love reading first time authors! Such a thrill.
Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics-by Dan Harris. For those of you who are gym rats but would like to get into meditating. Try this book.
The Wife-by Alifair Burke. How far will a wife go to protect the man she loves?
A new singer to listen to - Alice Merton. Go to youtube and listen to "no roots". She's really superb. Loving her.
Beauty Products and Cool Apps
Josie Maran Argan Moondrops-available at Sephora or QVC where it's a bit cheaper. Lovely oil and glow all at once. Super moisturizing.
Tarte Shapetape Concealer and Foundation-available at Sephora or QVC. Recommended to buy a shade lighter than your skin. Great product-beautiful coverage.
Josh Rosebrook Day Cream. It's a moisturizer with an SPF of 30. Pricey at $85.00. Available on line.
Maybelline Superstay Matte Ink Lip-lasts 16 hours. Ten Shades. $9.50. At CVS.
I Track Bites App-put in your diet plan: calories, weight watchers, etc. Track what you eat for free.
Like this better than E Tools from Weight Watchers.
MorningSave.com- Deals from a bunch of television shows. Recently saw a deebot vacuum and mop for $199 instead of $400! Lots of great bargains. Check out this site. Lots of great bargains.
And finally, if Comcast is out and you have no television: check out the podcast Dirty John. That's what I will be listening to tonight during my sleepless hours. The storm has disabled television and internet. So earplugs and smartphone are my only options. This is a true crime story about a possible murder in Newport Beach. Deals with themes of abuse and manipulation. I am just starting so I can't review. But it's quite compelling so far.
Till Next time-Austin and San Antonio will be the topic. Peace Out-One b
Best Picture: Hard to pick between Three Billboards and The Shape of Water, but I'll go with Three Billboards.
Best Director: Guillermo Del Toro for The Shape of Water. Beautifully shot and brilliantly done. And, Sally Hawkins is equally deserving of the Best Actress Award. But....
Best Actress: Frances McDormand will win over Sally Hawkins, I think.
Best Actor: Truthfully, I did not think Gary Oldman was that great in Darkest Hour. I have watched John Lithgow in The Crown on Netflix, and I felt his performance as Churchill was truly amazing. I was not wowed by Oldman or The Darkest Hour. So my pick is Timothy Chalamet in Call Me By Your Name.
However, Oldman WILL get the Oscar.
Best Supporting Actress: Hands down Allison Janney should win for I, Tonya. And I think she will, but Laurie Metcalf was awesome as the mom in Ladybird.
Best Supporting Actor: Sam Rockwell in Three Billboards. This was my favorite performance this year. He was spectacular. Hands down-The Best.
Further thoughts: I saw The Post and Phantom Thread. Although The Post was entertaining, it was not deserving as a Best Picture Nominee. What can I say about Phantom Thread? It could be tied as the worst movie I have seen since Stormy Monday in 1988 with Sting and Melanie Griffith; and the original Flatliners in 1990 with Julia Roberts and Kiefer Sutherland. Horrendous.
OK-Where to eat before the Oscars...
Osteria Giotto Cafe-Church St. Montclair. Salads, Soups, Pastas, Sandwiches to go. Parking is tough and especially if you are only running in to pickup your takeout. Known for their Lasagna.
Woodstack -Pine Brook. Haven't been, but have heard great things. Charred Pizzas, Delicious breads, and pastas. Supposedly a nice Sunday brunch menu. Full bar. Can't wait to try!
Giovanni's-Berkley Heights. Recommended highly for dinner. Make a reservation and give it a try.
Mezze-New Mediterranean in Livingston. Menu has lots of delicious options. Open for Lunch and Dinner.
Assado-New Portuguese Steakhouse in Livingston. Exterior looks lovely. Once inside it's a bit institutional. Food was mediocre and prices seemed high. Not a great combination.
Honey's-Fairfield. Tiny dive with delicious fresh food. Great for breakfast and lunch. Loved it!
Satis Bistro-Bloomfield. This town is having a major resurgence. Little restaurants are popping up near the train station and the new apartments. Essex Junction started the trend. Satis has a lovely menu, a great bar, and good food.
Marcus Samuelson's B & P-Newark. A very interesting menu and a great chef. Hopefully, this restaurant will draw lots of patrons. Looks fabulous.
Zeugma Grill-Montclair. Lovely Mediterranean menu with a wine bar. A bit pricey on the entrees, but you can go and order a few appetizers. Brunch, Lunch, Dinner.
Zaferon Grill-Verona. New Persian/Mediterranean restaurant. Interesting kebabs, flatbreads, burgers and entrees. BYOB.
Noble East-Montclair. Delicious, fresh Chinese food. More expensive than most other Chinese restaurants but white glove service, hot spa scented towels and lovely presentations make it worth the price. Known for Peking Duck. Give T.S. Ma a break and try this!
Closed-Above in South Orange. And Al Sogna in Montclair. Stay tuned-new restaurants coming to both locations.
Places on my NYC List that I want to try:
Upland-345 Park Ave. South
Pasquale Jones-187 Mulberry Street
Don Angie-103 Greenwich Avenue
Petee's Pie Company-61 Delancey Street
Underwest Donuts-638 West 47th Street at 12th Avenue
What to watch on Television, and What to Read, and Who to Listen to
Mozart in the Jungle-Amazon. This series grew on me. I didn't love the first few episodes, but ultimately it was a joy to watch. Gael Garcia Bernal and Malcolm McDowell are spectacular. And lots of classical music is a major bonus.
Last Tango in Halifax-Netflix or Amazon. Romantic Comedy about two widowed childhood sweethearts.
Man in High Castle-Amazon. Based on Philip Dick's novel. About what the world would look like if WWII had a different outcome.
The Looming Tower-Hulu. Starring Jeff Daniels and Alec Baldwin. Middle East Politics and Islamic terrorists.
Coming June 1st- A book by first time author, Fatima Farheen Mirza, called A Place For Us. This is published by Hogarth who just partnered with Sara Jessica Parker. They search for new authors and books that will knock your socks off. I love reading first time authors! Such a thrill.
Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics-by Dan Harris. For those of you who are gym rats but would like to get into meditating. Try this book.
The Wife-by Alifair Burke. How far will a wife go to protect the man she loves?
A new singer to listen to - Alice Merton. Go to youtube and listen to "no roots". She's really superb. Loving her.
Beauty Products and Cool Apps
Josie Maran Argan Moondrops-available at Sephora or QVC where it's a bit cheaper. Lovely oil and glow all at once. Super moisturizing.
Tarte Shapetape Concealer and Foundation-available at Sephora or QVC. Recommended to buy a shade lighter than your skin. Great product-beautiful coverage.
Josh Rosebrook Day Cream. It's a moisturizer with an SPF of 30. Pricey at $85.00. Available on line.
Maybelline Superstay Matte Ink Lip-lasts 16 hours. Ten Shades. $9.50. At CVS.
I Track Bites App-put in your diet plan: calories, weight watchers, etc. Track what you eat for free.
Like this better than E Tools from Weight Watchers.
MorningSave.com- Deals from a bunch of television shows. Recently saw a deebot vacuum and mop for $199 instead of $400! Lots of great bargains. Check out this site. Lots of great bargains.
And finally, if Comcast is out and you have no television: check out the podcast Dirty John. That's what I will be listening to tonight during my sleepless hours. The storm has disabled television and internet. So earplugs and smartphone are my only options. This is a true crime story about a possible murder in Newport Beach. Deals with themes of abuse and manipulation. I am just starting so I can't review. But it's quite compelling so far.
Till Next time-Austin and San Antonio will be the topic. Peace Out-One b
Friday, March 2, 2018
March did come in like a Lion....
So much information swirling in my mind. Notes are scattered everywhere. And today is the perfect weather to hang home and send you my thoughts. First off are my Oscar Predictions. I have seen all the movies! Let's place bets on Faye and Warren making an encore presentation-I'm betting yes, for sure.
Best Picture: Hard to pick between Three Billboards and The Shape of Water, but I'll go with Three Billboards.
Best Director: Guillermo Del Toro for The Shape of Water. Beautifully shot and brilliantly done. And, Sally Hawkins is equally deserving of the Best Actress Award. But....
Best Actress: Frances McDormand will win over Sally Hawkins, I think.
Best Actor: Truthfully, I did not think Gary Oldman was that great in Darkest Hour. I have watched John Lithgow in The Crown on Netflix, and I felt his performance as Churchill was amazing. I was not wowed by Oldman or Darkest Hour. So my pick is Timothy Chalamet in Call Me By Your Name.
However, Oldman will get the Oscar.
Best Supporting Actress: Hands down Allison Janney should win for I, Tonya. And I think she will, but Laurie Metcalf was pretty amazing in Ladybird.
Best Supporting Actor: Sam Rockwell in Three Billboards. This was my favorite performance this year. He was spectacular.
Further thoughts: I saw The Post and Phantom Thread. Although The Post was entertaining, it was not deserving as a Best Picture Nominee. What can I say about Phantom Thread? It could be tied as the worst movie I have seen since Stormy Monday in 1988 with Sting and Melanie Griffith; and the original Flatliners in 1990 with Julia Roberts and Kiefer Sutherland.
OK-Where to eat before the Oscars...
Osteria Giotto Cafe-Church St. Montclair. Salads, Soups, Pastas, Sandwiches to go. Parking is tough and you are only running in to pickup your takeout. Known for their Lasagna.
Woodstack -Pine Brook. Haven't been but have heard great things. Charred Pizzas, Delicious breads, and pastas. Supposedly a nice Sunday brunch menu. Full bar. Can't wait to try!
Giovanni's-Berkley Heights. Recommended highly for dinner. Make a reservation and give it a try.
Mezze-New Mediterranean in Livingston. Menu has lots of delicious options. Open for Lunch and Dinner.
Assado-New Portuguese Steakhouse in Livingston. Exterior looks lovely. Once inside it's a bit institutional. Food was mediocre and prices seemed high. Not a great combination.
Honey's-Fairfield. Tiny dive with delicious fresh food. Great for breakfast and lunch. Loved it!
Satis Bistro-Bloomfield. This town is having a major resurgence. Little Restaurants popping up near the train station and the new apartments. Essex Junction started the trend. Satis has a lovely menu, a great bar, and good food.
Marcus Samuelson's B & P-Newark. A very interesting menu and a great chef. Hopefully, this restaurant will draw lots of patrons. Looks fabulous.
Zeugma Grill-Montclair. Lovely Mediterranean menu with a wine bar. A bit pricey on the entrees, but you can go and order a few appetizers. Brunch, Lunch, Dinner.
Zaferon Grill-Verona. New Persian/Mediterranean restaurant. Interesting kebabs, flatbreads, burgers and entrees. BYOB.
Noble East-Montclair. Delicious, fresh Chinese food. More expensive than most other Chinese restaurants but white glove service, hot scented towels and lovely presentation make it worth the price. Known for Peking Duck. Give T.S. Ma a break and try this!
Closed-Above in South Orange. And Al Sogna in Montclair. Stay tuned-new restaurants coming to both locations.
Places on my NYC List that I want to try:
Upland-345 Park Ave. South
Pasquale Jones-187 Mulberry Street
Don Angie-103 Greenwich Avenue
Petee's Pie Company-61 Delancey Street
Underwest Donuts-638 West 47th Street at 12th Avenue
What to watch on Television and What to Read
Mozart in the Jungle
Best Picture: Hard to pick between Three Billboards and The Shape of Water, but I'll go with Three Billboards.
Best Director: Guillermo Del Toro for The Shape of Water. Beautifully shot and brilliantly done. And, Sally Hawkins is equally deserving of the Best Actress Award. But....
Best Actress: Frances McDormand will win over Sally Hawkins, I think.
Best Actor: Truthfully, I did not think Gary Oldman was that great in Darkest Hour. I have watched John Lithgow in The Crown on Netflix, and I felt his performance as Churchill was amazing. I was not wowed by Oldman or Darkest Hour. So my pick is Timothy Chalamet in Call Me By Your Name.
However, Oldman will get the Oscar.
Best Supporting Actress: Hands down Allison Janney should win for I, Tonya. And I think she will, but Laurie Metcalf was pretty amazing in Ladybird.
Best Supporting Actor: Sam Rockwell in Three Billboards. This was my favorite performance this year. He was spectacular.
Further thoughts: I saw The Post and Phantom Thread. Although The Post was entertaining, it was not deserving as a Best Picture Nominee. What can I say about Phantom Thread? It could be tied as the worst movie I have seen since Stormy Monday in 1988 with Sting and Melanie Griffith; and the original Flatliners in 1990 with Julia Roberts and Kiefer Sutherland.
OK-Where to eat before the Oscars...
Osteria Giotto Cafe-Church St. Montclair. Salads, Soups, Pastas, Sandwiches to go. Parking is tough and you are only running in to pickup your takeout. Known for their Lasagna.
Woodstack -Pine Brook. Haven't been but have heard great things. Charred Pizzas, Delicious breads, and pastas. Supposedly a nice Sunday brunch menu. Full bar. Can't wait to try!
Giovanni's-Berkley Heights. Recommended highly for dinner. Make a reservation and give it a try.
Mezze-New Mediterranean in Livingston. Menu has lots of delicious options. Open for Lunch and Dinner.
Assado-New Portuguese Steakhouse in Livingston. Exterior looks lovely. Once inside it's a bit institutional. Food was mediocre and prices seemed high. Not a great combination.
Honey's-Fairfield. Tiny dive with delicious fresh food. Great for breakfast and lunch. Loved it!
Satis Bistro-Bloomfield. This town is having a major resurgence. Little Restaurants popping up near the train station and the new apartments. Essex Junction started the trend. Satis has a lovely menu, a great bar, and good food.
Marcus Samuelson's B & P-Newark. A very interesting menu and a great chef. Hopefully, this restaurant will draw lots of patrons. Looks fabulous.
Zeugma Grill-Montclair. Lovely Mediterranean menu with a wine bar. A bit pricey on the entrees, but you can go and order a few appetizers. Brunch, Lunch, Dinner.
Zaferon Grill-Verona. New Persian/Mediterranean restaurant. Interesting kebabs, flatbreads, burgers and entrees. BYOB.
Noble East-Montclair. Delicious, fresh Chinese food. More expensive than most other Chinese restaurants but white glove service, hot scented towels and lovely presentation make it worth the price. Known for Peking Duck. Give T.S. Ma a break and try this!
Closed-Above in South Orange. And Al Sogna in Montclair. Stay tuned-new restaurants coming to both locations.
Places on my NYC List that I want to try:
Upland-345 Park Ave. South
Pasquale Jones-187 Mulberry Street
Don Angie-103 Greenwich Avenue
Petee's Pie Company-61 Delancey Street
Underwest Donuts-638 West 47th Street at 12th Avenue
What to watch on Television and What to Read
Mozart in the Jungle
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)