Friday 18 March 2011

St Patrick and the fun parade/day created by Irish-Americans

Saint Patrick's Day in New York begins at 11am when the parade starts to a rather (early-ish- by Uk standards) finish at 10/11 in the bars in NY, (though they will have started to drink at 4pm probably) it's such a great vibe, of music and celebration, in a sea of green clothes-  me included!
If you don't wear green apparently people pinch you affectionately.. I'm guessing on the cheek- I'm also guessing they're the ones on your face. :)

For once my brown face and British accent, with my green jumper, were just a glimpse in the crowd.
Sadly I haven't always had the same tolerance at home if I am totally honest, I felt more comfortable here, alone in the crowds with my camera, than I would in the UK or in the parade in London.
It was so mixed in diversity and socially (and drinking hadn't started), people encouraged you to take part in the cheers and shouting to the walkers in the parade.
Firefighters of Manhattan
Firefighters of Brooklyn and Queens


Army and Navy- no pun to the shop intended..
All those in service in someway were in the parade, firefighters, police, army, navy, air force, even sanitation people. I think it'd be nice to celebrate these people who keep us safe and clean too in London, it's a great way to recognise their service in a happy and fun way rather than just memorial days.
There were a number of schools and marching bands from all over the country, as well as some Irish counties being represented, and some political figures of New York dotted in here and there.
NYC Police in shades...



When the drinking did start  everyone was singing along with the tunes in the bars, the men in uniform pretty much had their pick of the ladies, and I'm sure the ladies in uniform benefited too and everyone was in a great mood! One big street party... almost!

So from living so close to Ireland for so much of my life, I realise that I knew nothing really of the story of St Patrick, then a wise lady on Facebook, informed me that St Patrick's Day and all it's festivities were invented by the Americans?!
Music!
Dancing!
Surely not, I thought but on the national geographic website Phillip Freeman of the Luther College of Iowa describes: St Patrick wasn't even Irish, but born in Britain. "At 16, Patrick's world turned: He was kidnapped and sent overseas to tend sheep as a slave in the chilly, mountainous countryside of Ireland for seven years.
According to folklore, a voice came to Patrick in his dreams, telling him to escape. He found passage on a pirate ship back to Britain, where he was reunited with his family.
The voice then told him to go back to Ireland.
"He gets ordained as a priest from a bishop, and goes back and spends the rest of his life trying to convert the Irish to Christianity," Freeman said.
Patrick's work in Ireland was tough—he was constantly beaten by thugs, harassed by the Irish royalty, and admonished by his British superiors. After he died on March 17, 461, Patrick was largely forgotten. But slowly, mythology grew around Patrick, and centuries later he was honored as the patron saint of Ireland."
Freeman agrees "St. Patrick's Day was basically invented in America by Irish-Americans".
This is probably true, because the majority of Irish immigrants, who numbered one in four back then, in the US were Protestant and so would not have celebrated this as a religious festival. But more as a connection to their homeland. And invent a good time they did! Of course it's celebrated in Ireland, but it's called a festival, looks very creative and inclusive too- heres some pic's from Dublin this year.

Today in New York it felt you didn't have to be Irish to take part; besides, St Patrick wasn't Irish either!

Tuesday 15 March 2011

The Hamptons!

So we got out of the city this weekend, hired a car and went off to the NYC much talked about Hamptons, where the rich and famous apprently live, course I didn't see 'em. But hey. I did see, the vineyards and we went wine tasting, which was fun, perhaps not the best wine on the planet, but fun none -the-less! Thankfully the American charm came out again, and people were chatting to us, even if they were from Manhattan, politely and we had a great laugh with strangers.. I love that about the US! :) Course the humor clashes, and I was worried several times I had offended people!
The Duck-winery
merlot, sryah and even ice wine grapes

It was lovely to get out of the city, even if only for a day.. many New Yorkers tell me occasional trips away is the way to keep you sane.My sister-in-law knows the Hamptons and always saying we should rent a house there in the summer, so I was excited about seeing it, and it was pretty and tranquil..
Driving into the town we were met  with a lovely little row of shops on the street side, no taller than a regular house- just for comparison on all of NYC tall buildings.
Sag Harbor





The amazing lighthouse at Monatuk Point with tours in the summer. Paddle surfers enjoying the swells at the beach.
Montauk point lighthouse
Beautiful swells by Montauk beach









This beach is frequented by turtles of all kinds throughout the year. And you can join organised walks along the beach to sea the seals this season. Sadly there was no walk on the day we visited, but conservation and education groups seem to be out in full force with a lot of information posted in the concession area.



And Deer! We went on a detour to drive close up to the water and get a glimpse of these beautiful houses we'd heard about and as we were driving away it just seemed that three Deer just appeared to the right of the car, looking directly at us. They came up so mysteriously we didn't hear them or see them at all, until they were right next to the car. Sadly my moving the window down scared them a bit, so the pictures are a bit 'lively' shall we say? So the second pic is after they ran in front of the car (we were stopped) and stopped to graze on the grass opposite.


We also saw a dead Deer on the side of the road, as well as a decapitated bunny and a Racoon on the highway. Too much human not enough space for the animals me thinks, so sad.
Not happy stuff, don't worry no pictures.

 TV series Royal Pains is set here, It's also the setting of Something's Gotta Give, always makes me think of that beautiful house by the beach in where she does her writing: ah my dream home...  just across the water we saw there was a 'New London' twist on the New York? and Mystic, where Mystic Pizza story/film was set. In all a beautiful day, even if it was chilly and a great day out of the city, refreshed for this week!



Thursday 10 March 2011

Become your Dream; Central Park Advice...

"Become Your Dream"
Spring is almost here and I'm walking through Central Park yesterday to see how different it all looks and every 20 paces I see this on the ground..  notice the chalked in fish..very cool, I thought, from the advice of the philisophical artists of NYC.
After seeing many squirrels almost running about insane, I saw quite a few with a tail ripped to shreds and some with no busy tail left at all. It was suggested that these may be the Raccoons in the park- I've never seen one, but there are warnings of rabies on posters all over the park, incase one should bite you or your dog.
Also something quite different with parks in London, they have haystacks tied to the trees and lamp posts to ensure a softer landing from all the sledging downhill during the snow.. which hopefully is over for this year..they're still in place though..
Spring like haystacks.

Monday 7 March 2011

A restaurant for all seasons!


So I discovered "Park Avenue -Winter' this week, but this restaurant is unusual in that it changes it's name, menu, and decor with the seasons. Good food and good service, even if the tables are a bit too tight together, I was amused and intrigued when our waiter told us about dessert even before we ordered drinks.
He told us that the restaurant this season had been a collaboration with Marina Abramovic- an artist, and that she had worked with the chef to create a dessert with a 'performance piece'. Now, who doesn't like to be entertained at dinner... I couldn't resist.. it sounded bizarre, and for someone who cant help but try new things, I decided to order it.
I had no idea that Abramovich was akin to the Tate Modern of artists and even has a biography entitled: When Marina Abramovic Dies: A Biography which was actually a prelude to this piece of her work/dessert.
The waiter presented me with my desert which looked like a meringue, with a noodley shaped sugar on top (apologies have no photo's- wasn't expecting to need the camera at dinner).
And a box with a set of headphones: my dessert was to be a volcano. And he informed me that she would ask me to 'look into the blue flame', as he wouldn't be able to hear that, he asked if I wouldn't mind if he lit it then and I could 'save the image in my mind...'

Of course I completely forgot about saving this image in my mind, as I was too close to diners either side of me intrigued by my desert who were too chicken, or too wise to be embarrassed to do this in a restaurant. I am English after all, it's not our way to be so flamboyant with desert!

So on the headphones she's telling me in a serious sombre voice to close my eyes and take deep breaths in and out.. I close my eyes because the waiter knows and he is watching but I'm red hot flushed, and way too conscious of all other diners watching.
She asks me to, finally open my eyes, and look at the blue flame... by now the sugary top is just melted on the meringue and I'm using imagination.
She tells me to take a taste, aah at least it tastes good, yummy meringue and a ice cream gooey center.

She goes on for a while asking me to taste this and feel that, I'm still too aware I am in the restaurant, being watched.

Smiling inanely, looking at my boyfriend, wondering what on earth I was thinking; ordering such a thing.
She then thanks me for 'tasting with awareness' phew.. it's over as I try to act confident and pass over the headset so he can do it! He does it with a lot less self-consciousness.. and we laugh..

Art and eating, in a restaurant that changes completely with each season, totally inspired NYC.
The girl on my right, came to ordering desert and asked me if the 'performance desert' was any good contemplating ordering it. I heard her English accent and felt relief,  I said something sarcastic, about it tasting nice and being very Tate Modern, she laughed and ordered two scoops of ice cream instead...I felt very brave as being the Londoner who left her inhibition to be inspired.. well sorta.. and all for $20!