Apple Picking In Upstate NY...updated new pics!

We went to a farm in Modena, NY with our Trinity Grace Church Community yesterday.  So fun.  Here's a few pics.  More to come...
...here are the new pics!

Older pics...

Permanent Tourist NYC: Jury Selection + Chinatown

So, I was summoned to be part of a jury pool for two days last week at the NY Criminal Justice Building. Apparently that happens every 6 years for the average New Yorker as opposed to once about every 15 years for most other major U.S. cities.  It was a really interesting process, and though I was not selected to sit in on a jury I left with a greater appreciation of our justice system.

I have to say though that the best part about it was the fact that I was next door to Chinatown for two days.  I did a little experiment for both lunches.  I ordered the same thing at two different restaurants, both on the highly recommended list of NFT (Not For Tourists).  Pork Dumplings and Fried Pancakes.  I tried them at Joe's Shanghai and Green Bo.  And the verdict is.......Green Bo!

Both meals were quite excellent, but I got the same goodness plus a complementary pot of tea and soy soup at Green Bo all for about $1 less than at Joe's Shanghai.  And of course one of the great things about Chinatown is that it's next door to Little Italy.  So I was forced to head over to Cafe Ferrera's and get a slice of their amazing Chocolate Vesuveus Cheesecake.

If you find yourself in NYC's Chinatown/Little Italy, now ya know where to go!

Another annual tradition?

Every year the NY Philharmonic Orchestra plays free concerts in three different parks of NYC. This is our second year to attend their concert in Central Park. It was a fun, relaxing evening. Instead of doing Pasta Monday at the Harrod's place like we normally do, we opted to move it to Tuesday and meet in the park. We spread out blankets and had fajitas and sandwhiches while we listened. But we were not alone...not at all.

Just about every square foot of green was taken around us. But that's part of the fun. We get to pack it in with all kinds of people and enjoy the community aspect of the event. Fun times. We even got to share the evening with our good friend, Janet Hubble, who was staying with us a few days. 'Till next year!