The Cold Has Arrived

Temperature today in New York City: -10 Celsius, 15 Fahrenheit. I think we can say that winter is now mingling with us.

An interesting thing to note is how everyone seems to be affected by this cold. I don't give it much attention, it must disappoint it. My down jacket, my fur hat and my comfortable boots make me this invincible New Yorker that nothing will stop.
And so I go about my wandering in the streets of New York.
First stop this week: Union Square Holiday Market. What can you find there? A lot...It ranges from gifts to strange objects to food. Walking around the shops, I awed at the spice market, with its bowls of free leafs tea and freshly ground spices that make for this colorful painting of delicate scents. The numerous artisans showing their artifacts, paintings, eclectic clothes make the visit absolutely delightful. If you happen to get cold walking around, you can either walk faster or stop at the Nunu Cocoa shop in the Ali Baba's cave of Union Square. I made the executive decision of getting their hot chocolate. Conclusion is: I would be a great CEO! It was smooth, tasty, full bodied, like a delicate while passionate syrup comforting my palate.

Now on the fit side of life...
I was delighted to see last morning how happy and festive it was at Bryant Park's ice rink. This is a must. There is nothing more stimulating than waking up early, and being on the ice at 8:00, with the sun enlightening your senses and ideas while you enjoy the elegant glide on the ice.
The music spans from the 40's to Frank Sinatra, and later in the day on to more Jazzy styles. So the morning enjoyment is definitely of consequence in your yet to come New York day of madness. I think a daily session would be ideal. Refreshes your lungs, starts the body alchemy of energy flow, and simply is more interesting than waking up, having coffee and rushing to work like any other New Yorker...Don't you think?

So don't loose sight of your fitness while sipping on a hot chocolate or a dry martini!!
;)

Rockefeller Tree Lighting

The Tree Lighting

The real beginning of the Christmas season always is when the Rockefeller Center lights up the gigantic Christmas tree put up each year in Rockefeller Plaza.
It's an event all over town...Everyone wants to come to the celebration of the Rockefeller tree lighting. Tickets are sold, everyone wants to see the event, the performances, the celebrities.
If you don't understand why there is so much fuss around this, try looking at some sample videos taken last night.
This Christmas tree, a Norway Pruce to be precise, is lit by around 30 000 Christmas lights! Now I really hope they're not all on a single wire because if they are, it must take time to find out which of the LEDs actually needs to be replaced :) This Oh so marvelous tree also has the privilege, the honor, of being ultimately decorated in its peak by a Swarovski crystal star...to make sure it shines enough, on top of the lights.
I'm being sarcastic and cynical, however I do agree that the lighting of the tree was a very magical moment. To see all these lights at once is an exhilarating feeling, and is well worth bearing with the crowd.

After the ceremony, what else could better close the night than venturing into my favorite Thai restaurant in New York City: Pinto, on Christopher Street, West Village. Lovely delicate refined shrimp dumplings will titillate your appetite, to be followed by their incomparable crab cake served with fresh salad. All in all, in every meal you will find your crudites, your proteins, and for anti-oxidants, do not forget to abundantly refresh yourself with their out of this world Strawberry Mojito, shaken to perfection.

Don't forget: don't miss out the Rockefeller Plaza Christmas tree.

Ladies and gentlemen, may the 2010 Christmas season begin!