Gotham Gal

Owning your own holiday

Everyone has certain family traditions. You grow up and generally continue them but sometimes you do everything not to follow those footsteps.

I grew up in a reform Jewish household. There was certainly a connection to Judaism on some level. My parents were involved with starting 2 temples which are now the 2 largest reform congregations in the country. You would have thought we were big Jews but we weren't.

I could probably list a million reasons of the reality of how I found myself disconnected from being Jewish growing up but I will save that for therapy . Neither me nor my siblings were bar/bat mitzvah'd. Yet when we had children, I wanted to give them a connection to Judaism. For whatever reason, I felt it was important. Not sure what kind of job I did there but my guess is, time will tell. In the post-bar/bat mitzvah life, they have zero interest but I am hoping sometime around their mid-20's something will hit.

All our kids went to Hebrew school from the time they were 8 until they got bar/bat mitzvah'd. My brother, funny enough, is doing the same thing with his kids. We are Jewish and perhaps passing on our heritage gives us an ability to connect to our religion in a different way as adults.

On Sunday night, we went to our friends house to celebrate Hanukkah. This is a guy who was raised orthodox. The room was a mix of reform, conservative and orthodox Jews (growing up) but we are all friends and my friend wanted to embrace the holiday and make it his own.

It was a wonderful evening. Latkes, brisket and jelly donuts on the menu. Food is always, no matter how religious you are, a major part of every Jewish event. So, we ate, we drank and lit the candles.

One friend, who is a singer, sang "Light my Fire" by Jim Morrison. My friend, who lit the candles, sang a song that his grandfather taught him for Hanukkah. After all of this, spoke to us and Amichai Lau-Lavie basically deconstructed the holiday. There was conversation around his whole schtick. He is an Israeli born teacher of Storahtelling. He was really fantastic, thought provoking and funny at the same time.

It was such a nice evening on so many levels. It allowed everyone there to continue their personal connection to Judaism be it their desire to continue in their family traditions or shift from being orthodox to becoming a little more reformed. But what was really nice, it let this group of friends connect at a different level because the one constant is that we are all Jewish. We all owned it in our own way as a group without any family and some serious killer jelly donuts.

Comments (View) / Posted December 15, 2009 in Religion

Red Stamp

How will we correspond in the future?

Of course, we are corresponding at lighting speed these days. We are also communicating more now than ever than before through email, text, bbm, etc., Yet, how about for special occasions or just a shout to say feel better or bar/bat mitzvah and wedding invitations or all the greeting card events such as Valentines Day, Fathers Day and Mothers Day?

The local card shops seem to be on the outs. The rents are high and they just aren't doing enough volume to account for the overhead. The business is moving online be it a card, stationary or an evite.

The physical snail mail card business isn't going to evaporate anytime soon. It might transform but it will continue. Personally, I believe some notes should be written by hand. When you receive a gift from lets say a wedding or bar mitzvahs or a new baby, I want to see a handwritten card show up in the mail. Other events, I am happy to get a nice email. Granted, communication is changing and everyone has their own set of do's and don'ts.

Rules are changing everywhere and the fun part is getting involved with the change instead of sticking to the status quo. This is a quote from one of my favorite people, Mo Koyfman, that hits the nail right on head. "Suppliers will hold up distributors every chance they get and almost always struggle to embrace today’s necessary digital ubiquity, fearing erosion of their business rather than recognizing the power of massive distribution". What he is talking about took place in the music industry, the publishing industry and is slowly taking place in other industries too. It is the companies that are embracing change and trying to figure out the new will be the leaders of the future.

Correspondence is social and I believe that the distribution of this particular business is changing. To give you an idea of the size of this business, Hallmark Greeting Cards (which is only one piece of the pie) did $4.3 billion in 2008. I have many thoughts on this topic but am thrilled to join Red Stamp as an advisor. I actually met the owner of Red Stamp through my blog. Love that. Super smart group of people, great site with great ideas about how correspondence in the future is going to play itself out. I am looking forward to being involved with Red Stamp on the correspondence road map.

Comments (View) / Posted December 13, 2009 in businesses

Gift

Thanks to Gabe at Joseph Leonard, I met Max Steiner. Max is a jewelry designer, sculpture, product designer and many more things. More important, he is a doll to work with.

I loved the lego pieces in his collection and decided to commission Max to make something for me to give to Fred. This piece, which I love, pretty much represents what has probably been the key to our relationship. We both love to build things. We might go about things in a different way but at the end of the way, but it works. We had built a family, first and foremost, a life, businesses and for good or bad, a variety of places to live.

Needless to say, the gift was a hit.

Comments (View) / Posted December 12, 2009 in art

A moment of culture..

Yesterday, I went to look at office space with my friend and eventual partner in a business (but that is a story for later). The office is located at 594 Broadway which is between Prince and Houston.

The office was perfect, a slam dunk. As we made our way back to the elevator, we passed MoCCA which is located right outside the elevator. MoCCA is the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art. I had read about the current show so we went in for a quick look.

First of all, how many cities would have a random museum on the 4th floor of a building in what could be an office. Not many. The exhibit is the history of Archie. It was great.

I grew up on Archie comics particularly at camp as a few always came in the care package. I sent my kids Archie comics when they were at camp too. I had read recently that Archie had married Veronica instead of Betty. I guess he went for the cash. LOL!

Anyway, the exhibit is great. Probably a blast with kids. There is also the off-shoots such as Josie and the Pussycats, Sabrina the Teenage Witch and of course the Archie comics from the beginning to now. It is funny to see how the 60's comics were a bit skewed with the times as well as the ones created currently.

A quick trip if you happen to be walking around Soho. Always nice to get a quick dose of culture when you were least expecting it.

Comments (View) / Posted December 12, 2009 in art

Happy Hanukkah

How could I not make latkes tonight? Delicious, messy, guaranteed to smell up the entire house and a once a year treat.

6 Yukon Gold Potatoes, grated with skin
1 large Vidalia onion grated
3 eggs
1/4 cup of matzo meal
salt and pepper

Mix this all together. In all honesty, I am giving a guesstimate. I never really measure just sort of do it by feel. Deep fry in vegetable oil. Make sure when you put the potatoes in the oil, that you have really squeezed all the liquid out. Flip when browned on one side, brown the other and set on newspaper or paper towels to soak up the oil. Keep warm at 260 in the oven until ready to serve. Serve with sour cream or applesauce.

Yum....or and Happ Hanukkah.

Comments (View) / Posted December 11, 2009 in recipes

Urs Fischer: New Museum

Winter hit NYC today. Bummer.

Fred and I spent a bit of the day together today. We lunched at Ruby's in Nolita and did a bit of strolling, shopping and such. We also hit up the New Museum.

I have been to the New Museum a few times. I don't love the spaces there. Almost like a gritty gallery trying to do it on the cheap but maybe that is the look. I wanted to see the Urs Fischer exhibit and so we went.

This is the first solo exhibit for Fischer in an American museum. The work on the top floor, I believe, was made exclusively for this show. Over-sized clay looking aluminum structures. As you continue downstairs, each floor has a different vibe with different sculptures. The third floor has a very cool purple piano that appears to be melting. Personally, I wasn't that into either floor but the second floor was a total, love.

The second floor is filled with triangular and square cubes of aluminum that are then covered with images. They are fantastic. Different angles of a cupcake, a lipstick tube, half a loaf of bread, a sneaker, a Dell computer, a Balanciaga sandal, etc. It is a maze of these cubes. Each one reveals itself to you are you walk through the room. Clever, thought provoking and I would love to bring one home!

I am still not loving the New Museum but the 2nd floor is absolutely worth the trip. Kids would love it.

Comments (View) / Posted December 10, 2009 in art

The Highline rules

The New Yorker posted an article called the Ten Most Positive Architectural Events of 2009. Needless to say, the Highline was the first thing on the list.

When I first had the opportunity to walk the Highline, it was just weeds and graffiti. But I got more and more excited every step I took. It was so obvious that turning these old train tracks into a park would be a huge change for downtown NYC. Architecturally it would change the landscape. Certainly looking at NYC from that vantage point is incredible and anyone who has experienced it will certainly agree.

Here is the paragraph on the Highline from Paul Goldberger from the New Yorker.

Far and away the most uplifting thing to happen in New York this year was the completion of the first segment of the High Line, the magnificent promenade/public park atop the old elevated freight line running through West Chelsea. Designed by designed by James Corner Field Operations and Diller, Scofidio and Renfro, it is crisp, fresh, inviting, and comfortable, and if there is any shortcoming to this brilliant design, it is that it has made this area even more chic than it was before.

On another note, I couldn't so easily cut and paste this from the New Yorker. They still own their content! Interesting.

Comments (View) / Posted December 9, 2009 in non-profit

Gifted, East 4th and Lafayette St.

I stopped by gifted this evening which is on the corner of East 4th and Lafayette St. Basically all the great stuff from the Brooklyn Flea market in Manhattan. Perfect for holiday gifts. Rick has a booth so you can stock up on Ricks Picks for holiday eating. Yes, eating continues until January 1st.

Comments (View) / Posted December 9, 2009 in stores

National Brownie Day?

I got an email from Greyston Bakery yesterday letting me know that today, December 8th, is National Brownie Day. Who knew? I am a huge fan of the brownies at Greyston but also their mission. All brownie profits go to supporting jobs, child care, health care and housing for the underprivileged. They also hire a fair amount of people in need which changes their lives.

So today, I was inspired to make brownies to celebrate. This recipe came from the Ad Hoc cookbook, my fave of the moment.

3/4 cup flour
1 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp. kosher salt
3 sticks unsalted butter cut into pieces
3 eggs
1 3/4 cups sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips
powder sugar for dusting

Preheat the oven to 350. Use a 9 inch square pan, put parchment in the bottom and grease really well.

Sift together the flour, cocoa and salt and then set aside.

Melt 1 1/2 sticks butter on a very low heat. In another bowl, put the rest of the butter chopped up. Once the butter is melted, pour it over the chopped up butter. This will melt the other butter. Stir. It should get creamy and will still have some un-melted butter which is fine and it will get thick.

Beat together the 3 eggs and sugar for about 3 minutes or until very pale and thick. Add the vanilla, mix again. Now put in 1/3 of the dry ingredients, mix, then 1/3 of the butter mixture and then mix. Continue doing this until everything is totally incorporated.

Once this is done, stir in the chocolate chips. Pour this thick batter into the 9 inch square pan, spread evenly and bake for about 40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Let this cool until almost room temperature. Cut into 12 pieces and dust with powdered sugar (use a thin mesh strainer to dust - makes life easier). Then celebrate National Brownie Day.

Here are some fun facts that Greyston sent about brownies.

1. The first brownie, like other culinary mishaps (the sandwich, pizza, potato chip) was a mistake. The baker didn’t have baking powder and ended up with an unleavened fudgy treat.

2. Arguably the first brownie recipe was found in the Sears, Roebuck Catalogue in 1800’s. Sear’s last general merchandise catalogue ceased publication in 1993.

3. The world’s largest brownie was made in 2001, weighed in at 3,000 lbs. and was made from 750 lbs. of chocolate chips, 500 lbs. of butter, 850 lbs of sugar, 500 lbs. of flour and 3,500 eggs.

4. The first brownie ever created did not have any chocolate in it, instead it was sweetened with molasses and eventually became known as a blondie.

5. The brownies origin is American. However, similar bar cookies and squares can be found internationally, including baklava from the Middle East, nanaimo bars from Canada and tray bakes from the UK.

6. There are two types of brownies: fudgy and cake-like. According to Greyston Bakery research, fudgy tops the preference list of most consumers.

7. Although its origin may be shrouded in mystery, its name is not, which is clearly derived from its brown color.

8. According to Wikipedia, Brownie points in modern (21st century) usage are a hypothetical social currency, which can be accrued by doing good deeds or earning favor in the eyes of another, often one's superior. The origin of the term is unclear.

9. Although cannabis is the most controversial brownie mix-in, walnut remains the most popular and legal.

10. Typically served as a dessert, brownies can be enjoyed for breakfast or a mid-afternoon snack.

Comments (View) / Posted December 8, 2009 in recipes

More pizza

My mom and sister came over for dins tonight and we did a little pizza mix. (Yes, my sister, my brother, my husband and my kids blog ). You gotta plan in advance so I made the dough yesterday. A nice treat from the normal day to day dinner. I blogged about the dough in October. Here are the pictures and combos tonight.

First pizza was sauteed cauliflower with a little panko, pan fried pine nuts and a mixture of 2 hard Italian cheeses ( pecorino like ).

Second was burratta, sauteed ends of broccolini and sweet sausage ( the insides ). A tad heavy on the cheese. Oops.

Third was mozzarella (from Italy), prosciutto and dollops of pesto ( always have some homemade in the fridge).

Fourth was Emily's who felt we must have the classic. Paul Newman's tomato sauce and shredded mozzarella (old school style from the market).

I forgot to take the pictures as the night went on. You can see the first one was whole, the second one was sliced, the third one was half eaten and the fourth one had one slice left. Kind of funny, actually.

Fun evening...and am loving the pizza.

Comments (View) / Posted December 6, 2009 in recipes