Holiday Thoughts

Recently I asked some friends for suggestions on things to do in New York City during the holidays. My brother and sister are coming to town, and while I have a few ideas for what we are going to do - a New Yorker's perspective was necessary:



-FAO Swartz & the Apple Store (5th & 59th)

-St Thomas Church (1 W 53rd & 5th)

-Rockafeller Center (48-51st bet 5th & 6th)

-The New York Public Library- big christmas tree in the lobby (5th & 42)

-Bryant Park holiday market and skating pond- you can skate for free here!
(6th ave bet. 40 & 42)

-Macy's Window display (broadway bet 34 & 35)

Good places to eat/ drink along the way:
-44 at the Royalton (44 W 44th bet 5th & 6th)
-or Celsius at Bryant Park (6th ave bet. 40th and 42nd St.s)

- Another great (FREE) thing to do is to go to the South Street Seaport,
they have holiday decorations and a big tree set up, and on weekends the
have free holiday concerts. 


- Rockettes at Radio City?

- The Nutcracker at Lincoln Center

- Ice skating in Wollman Rink or at Bryant Park

- St. John the Divine: http://www.stjohndivine.org/Holiday2010.html

- Carriage ride in Central Park

Prompt #3: Colleague Site Analysis

Site: https://files.nyu.edu/tl927/public/
Creator: Tiffany Lutz
Best Features: Tiffany uses the same theme throughout her websites. It is clean, neat and attractive. The colors also reflect her personality. I like that she included two resumes - theatrical and educational. As artists it's important to remember both!

Site: https://files.nyu.edu/nac319/public/

Creator: Nicholas Catino

Best Features: Nicholas had a fantastic images page - the filters he used really illuminated the scary, haunted aspects of the house from the town where he used to live. His explanations were also very descriptive. 

Site: https://files.nyu.edu/jl3485/public/

Creator: Jen Laudia

Best Features: Jen also uses the same theme throughout her websites, keeping a minimalist consistency throughout. Her assignments are to the point, precise and very clear. I enjoyed her approach and personal touch in explaining the projects. 

Prompt #2: Blackboard Analysis Assignment

For the most part, I have no issues with NYU's Blackboard service. At the university where I completed my Undergraduate degree, we used a similar service called "Moodle".

Blackboard Pros:

• Through the "tools and communication" it is easy to get in touch with all or select classmates and your professor(s).
• The layout is pretty simple and easy to use. 

Blackboard Cons:

• Once you have sent an email to a few people, they can't "reply all".
• Pdf files take a long time to load, sometimes. 

Prompt #1: Browser Comparison Assignment

When I first started to use the internet (about 15 years ago - that's more than half my life - weird!) - I used Netscape Navigator... then I used Internet Explorer and finally about 5 years ago made the switch to Mozilla Firefox.

This year, I started using Google Chrome - it was easy, smooth and did pretty much everything I needed it to do, however, I didn't like that I couldn't customize my toolbar the way I used to be able to with Firefox. Does anybody remember their commercials on TV? The batman one was pretty funny. I tried looking it up on youtube but couldn't find it!

Having recently switched from a PC to a Mac in September this year, I started to use Safari. It is the only browser I use and the feature I enjoy the most is the Bookmarks bar because it's discrete and efficient. I also like that when I open a new tab I get my top sites. Chrome did that too.

Click on the following links to see what other people are saying about browsers:

1. MacTalk Comparison

2. Best Browsers 2010 Comparison

3. Youtube Browser Comparison Video

Simple. Delicious.

Layer in the following order:

- hot ciabatta + good olive oil

- fresh mozzarella cheese

- sliced vine tomatoes with cracked pepper and salt (I know they're not in season but they're delicious)

- french arugula

- sliced soppressata

Pecan Cream Cheese Rolls

Pecan Cream Cheese Rolls

8 oz. pack Philadelphia cream cheese (room temp)

2 cloves garlic (minced)          

black pepper

1/3 stick butter

¼ - cup brown sugar

2 tsp Dijon mustard

2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1 cup chopped pecans

Mix cream cheese with the garlic in a bowl. Add black pepper to taste. Spoon onto plastic wrap and form into log shape OR using an pastry bag, about 1 inch in diameter and place in freezer for until mostly frozen (1-2 hours).

Prepare the following as your cheese roll freezes:

In a saucepan, combine the butter, sugar, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce, boil on medium heat for about a minute or until the mixture has thickened. Stir in chopped pecans.

Transfer pecan mixture onto parchment paper. Spread to rectangle shape large enough to cover log – a 1-inch cream cheese roll will fit into a pecan rectangle about 4 inches wide.

Unwrap chilled log and place in center of pecan mixture; roll pecan mixture to cover around log. Wrap and place in fridge for several hours or overnight until firm.

When ready to serve – cut into small slices and place cucumber slices.

Lentil Salad

Feeling a little icky? Too much bacon last weekend? Or too much beef and beer stew?

Time for a filling, nutrient-rich salad!

Prep:

Salad:
- 2 celery ribs: cleaned, fibers removed from ends and sliced into thin pieces
- 2 scallions: finely sliced
- 1 tin of corn
- 2 beets: roasted in the oven for 1 hour at 425 degrees, diced
- 2 cups boiled lentils (cook in veggie stock for tastier lentils, OR cook in water with 1 onion, 1 rib of   celery and 1 carrot)
- 2 cups broccoli: cleaned, cut into small florets

Dressing:
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 4 tbsp olive oil
- Juice of half a lemon
- Pinch salt
- Dash pepper
*Taste, and then adjust according to your personal taste.

Combine everything together and voila - a colorful, delicious salad! Also, you can add a boiled egg for protein.