Bright Lights of Broadway

No, unfortunately I haven't been "discovered yet"- my phenomenal talent continues to go inexplicably unnoticed despite loud singing along to my iPod in the streets. So while I'm waiting for my big shot, I have to go bask in the glory of others who have already made it. Due to cancellation of travel plans, a pair of tickets to see Billy Elliot on Broadway were made available to Fer and I last night. We got to go see the show with Fer's dad who is visiting New York for the weekend. It was so much fun!! I spent the majority of the three hours with a huge smile on my face as I watched those precocious little kids hoofin it across the stage. I didn't expect to like it so much, but it was really irresistable- tons of good energy + great dancing + cute kids + funny coal miner British language= a winning combination. It earned my recommendation. If you don't like it, you're probably just a terrible shrew like Margaret Thatcher. (Disclaimer: I actually know little to nothing about good ole maggie thatcher, but all those miners sure hated her in this show).

Bon Appetit!

Forgot to post this yesterday night- guess I got caught up in the splendor of this delectable presentation. Made dinner for Fer and I last night- pork tenderloin, and brown rice, delicately garnished with fresh thyme and blood oranges. I would argue that it was the best looking meal I've ever put on a plate. Feel free to offer your congratulations.

Hello from Hunter

Because I am SO dedicated to this blog, I am currently writing while in my Tuesday night class... and simultaneously giving my full attention to the lecture of course. All to keep my daily reports up to date. Good thing I'm an excellent multi-tasker.
Not a lot to tell today unfortunately, so I'm going to do some carryover from this weekend when so many more exciting things happened. One of my dedicated readers reminded me today that I omitted a critical component from my retelling of the Friday night happenings. And that critical component is...the button!
When leaving the restaurant, I noticed a strange cool feeling on my wrist, and reached into my sleeve to find a large, beautiful button. After determining that the button had not come from the clothing of either of my companions, I came to the logical conclusion that my sleeve had gained the mysterious magical property of producing fantastic buttons every time I put on my coat. This theory has not been proven by subsequent experiences, but I still have hope. In the mean time I plan to sew the original button on my hat.
Haha, in retrospect, I'm not sure this story is any less mundane than the boring events of my Tuesday. Seriously, a button?

¡Hola Don Pepito!

First day of spring semester preschool Spanish classes at Brooklyn Friends. We practiced hello (hola!) and goodbye (adios!) with this fantastic song, which will now be stuck in my head for probably another week or two. Please view and share this experience with me.
Hola Don Pepito video on Youtube
Also, imagine 3 and 4 year olds acting this out with little finger puppets while singing along. Awwwww.

Year of the Tiger

Visited Chinatown for a fun-filled celebration of Chinese New Year with friends today. Started out with a morning sugar high courtesy of baked goods from Fay Da bakery (I LOVE red bean buns!), and then waited...and waited...and waited to see the parade. It was all worth it though when these colorful dragons pranced by, winking their eyelashes at us. Afterwards, I went to the Golden Unicorn for dim sum delight. I had never been to a real dim sum restaurant, so I had a great time, despite the sad realization that I am even more inept at using chopsticks than I previously thought. Finished things off with a lychee ice cream cone Chinatown Ice Cream Factory, and enjoyed eating it amidst the swirling clouds of confetti that were still floating through the streets.

Have a tasty-fun-healthy New Year everyone!

Saturday Evening with Sayda

Fer and I were invited by our good friend Alicia, to a performance in Brooklyn tonight. We had no idea what the show was about, but I am so glad we trusted the good judgement of Alicia and went. It was an amazing piece about a woman's experience emigrating to the US from Guatemala when she was a young girl. It made me smile to listen to her talk about volcanos, chickens and black beans as she moved across the stage in a corte woven from strips of plastic. Check out her website, and try to catch her show on its last night here in NY if you can (Sunday 2/21)! For all you Californians, she will be performing in San Diego and LA next week! Just be warned, you may leave the show craving black beans and tamales...I know I did.

Sayda Trujillo website: I Was Raised Mexican

Springer Sisters Friday!

Had a really great evening yesterday with the lovely Mademoiselles Springer, Brooke and Remy. We went out for dinner, at a cute BYOB Thai restaurant on the Lower East Side, called Sticky Rice. We shared a large bottle of red wine, and several hilarious stories, including one about me kicking over all the potted plants in my parents' driveway after I got in trouble in highschool once. Then we took a spin through Rite Aid where we had to make a difficult decision between discounted Valentines' Day candy and new, premium Easter candy. (Surprise- we bought both!) We took our sugary treats back to their apartment for a Lost (Season One) viewing party, and now I'm completely addicted to that show. While there, we also decided that Mary Beth should move to NYC, and all 4 of us will live together in their small studio apartment- with bunk beds!

Side note: Check out Brooke and Remy's mom's blog, which is really fun and partially inspired me to get back to blogging! www.an-american-in-malta.com

Kufi Hats

Visited a center for adults with disabilities in Queens today with my class and got to spend the morning making kufi hats in honor of Black History Month! Ours were made out of construction paper and slightly more mishapen than the one pictured here, but still excellent. Gave me a little taste of what Mary Beth's daily work is like!