Rockefeller Center

I'm sure you are getting tired of both New York City AND my shoe shots....sorry...I just can't seem to get enough of either...this is me and Ann Sagawa, right outside of "30 Rock"


Last December, I was in the city for the tree-lighting ceremony. So, the TREE was on this actual spot...but not this time...hey...one more shoe shot?


They change out the Plaza all the time. I've never seen it when the DAFFODILS were in full bloom. What a thrill....



This was taken on the Monday morning -- when Ann and I had unsuccessfully tried to get on the TODAY show. Altho we DID manage to shake hands with Al Roker...As a consolation prize, I took Ann's picture with the iconic Prometheus statue in the background. They just dismantled the skating rink and are turning it into the "Rink Bar"...

GREEN ONIONS and Tabouli

The great thing about COOKING is that every season brings it's own special treat...John is an enthusiastic gardner -- so in April, we enjoy fresh asparagus. And, if we're lucky -- in May the GREEN ONIONS pop out of the ground – that means THERE’S GOING TO BE TABOULI SALAD.

My mother-in-law Helen was the best cook I ever met and I never saw her use a recipe. She was Ukranian and Irish, and she married a Sicilian. She loved making ALL KINDS of food...and her version of Tabouli Salad comes from a Syrian neighbor in Pottsville, Pennsylvania.

It goes something like this: (remember -- NO exact recipe)
Soak two cups of Bulgar wheat...(I put the dry wheat in a shallow pan and pour hot water over it -- until there's about 1" of water on top. Cover with plastic wrap and let soak overnight).

here's what the hard, dry wheat looks like...

To assemble the salad -- put the puffed-up soaked wheat in a clean cotton towel and squeeze out the excess moisture.
If you did it right -- you should have about 4 cups of soft wheat...
Add:
2 cups of chopped green onions (both green and white parts)
1 cup of chopped mint leaves
1 cup of chopped tomatoes
1 cup of chopped parsley
Dressing:
We like a LOT of garlic. (John's best garden crop...) I mince three cloves into a small amount of olive oil and microwave it on high for about 20 seconds (this step is important, and softens the garlic flavor).
Then, add the garlic/oil to maybe 3/4 olive oil, with the juice of one LARGE lemon (or two small lemons).
MIX EVERYTHING TOGETHER...the Tabouli is better if it sits for an hour or so.Here's the finished salad -- after the wheat is soft, and everything else is mixed in...


The traditional way to eat Tabouli is with grape leaves...use the grape leaf to make a little Tabouli Taco. Hey - if you don't have grape leaves -- I'm telling you -- Tabouli is PRETTY GOOD WITH TACO CHIPS, too...I'm just saying...

For at least 30 years, I have made Tabouli salad in the SPRING….and I always think about Helen Farro…

Lenny and the TODAY show

If you want to have your family SEE you on the today show -- you've got to get there EARLY. No kidding. this is what the outdoor TODAY arena looked like at 6:15 AM on a Thursday.....I could pick my location...

I've always been curious about the guy in the hoodie. If you watch the show -- you know he is there EVERY SINGLE MORNING...


Well -- HERE'S THE STORY. His name is Lenny and he is a morning celebrity of sorts. He stood in line every single day for years -- to hold up this sign -- and, at this point in time -- he does not have to stand in line. The crew honors his persistence by allowing him to walk into the arena. Lenny doesn't have to stand in line...he assumes his same position, on the fence, at the 50th street side, every single day.
I'm pretty sure Irving Pinsky is Matt Lauer's attorney...

Cash and his hobbies

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY. The best time of my life was when Ross & Elliott were small. I loved all of it. Rocking them to sleep, reading books to them, making cardboard houses, Little League baseball, chocolate cakes with peanut butter icing, PTA meetiings...

And -- oh, yeah -- I miss those two little boys. Lucky for me -- when I'm home, once a week, I try to have a little kid come play with me. My current playmate is 3-year-old Cash. You've met him before. He's a child of many interests. During a recent visit -- we picked asparagus -- which was a lot of fun...




One of his favorite things to do -- BAKE A CAKE. Chocolate, of course!


Making the frosting, CASH explained to me that red and yellow food coloring would make orange...sure enough...


I thought maybe Cash would enjoy trying his hand at photography...my little digital camera is so easy to operate...I showed him the button to push...but maybe I wasn't very clear on which way you point the camera, eh?



After some practice -- his pictures were really improving -- so I thought he could take a picture of me spray painting one of my lamps....

Hummm..... maybe we should stick to baking cakes...

Columbus Circle

Donald Trump must be very happy to know that his globe -- located in front of Trump International, right at Columbus Circle -- has become an iconic New York City sculpture...

We were there at about 10:00 AM -- and dozens of carriages and horses were trotting over to their stands.

I take EVERYBODY down the escalators to WHOLE FOODS...here, I'm taking a picture of Ann taking a picture...



Because -- really -- THIS IS ART!!
And -- hey-- those New Yorkers are SERIOUS about their low-fat diet...

First TODAY Show Attempt

On Monday morning, Ann Sagawa and I got up at 6:00 to go to the TODAY SHOW. You know this was MY MISSION....to get the Hey Rita TOTE on the TODAY SHOW...

Here's one of my FOOT PHOTOS...Ann Sagawa in the black patent leather...me in the Ecco sandals (with the pink and orange toe polish)...


We arrived before 7:00 -- but there was a huge line-up...we found out that hundreds of "Hanson" fans were planning on coming to the TODAY show for a dance-event that day. These three girls are big HANSON fans...(they've attended 47 concerts)!!
So -- our location was not the best -- but we did bravely stand there -- in the COLD -- for nearly two hours -- hoping for the best....just a glimpse of the TODAY team...


This is as close as we got that morning....although NOT on camera -- both Ann & I got to shake hands with Al Roker...

FYI -- Al Roker comes out every morning and walks the entire perimeter of the outside TODAY show area. He takes his time, he makes eye contact, and smiles at every single person -- we ALL had a chance to shake his hand. Al Roker is a class act...

April's NYC Apartment Tour

Here's a great picture of April -- sitting on her leather couch, which is located at the foot of her bed...in her New York City studio apartment..

She has very tall ceilings -- and three VERY TALL windows -- a great place for her new plants...

Here she is, standing in her kitchen...

OR -- she can look out into the living/dining/sleeping/area of her apartment...

Believe me -- the Hey Rita TOTE NEEDED A NAP by the time we got up to April's apartment. Did I forget to mention that it's a FIFTH FLOOR WALK-UP...??


No kidding. By the time we got to the fourth floor, I was breathing hard and hanging onto the rail to keep from sliding back down. My knees were giving out...my back was killing me...April was, of course, gliding up the stairs well ahead of me. Being gracious, she turned and said (several times), "you're doing great, Rita!!"

I laughed and said, "sure I am, hon. Just promise me there is an oxygen tank in your place."

That night, April made reservations at Luzzo's -- THE hot pizza place in New York City. It was in the East Village. We had SUCH A GREAT TIME...and we never would have found that place on our own.

You are a wonderful ambassador for your adopted city, April. And I loved spending time with a REAL NEW YORKER...

P.S. -- and don't worry -- I won't forget your antlers!