Moonstruck in November (and Happy Thanksgiving!)

 

 Moonstruck in November!

25 years ago my husband and I spent the month of November in Italy on our honeymoon.  We spent a good amount of time in Venice, Florence, Rome and Milan.  We took our children back in April to Venice and Florence for our 20th anniversary.  This November we couldn't make that trip happen. The major reason being November isn't the best time of year to vacation in Europe because the weather is often rainy, cold and damp.  So we decided to spend a long weekend in our favorite city - New York.

Friday we had a beautiful lunch at Maialino, one of acclaimed Chef Danny Meyer's award winning restaurants.  It's located in the Gramercy Park Hotel.

 

That evening we took a black car to the Met to see the opera La Boheme.  I loved the movie Moonstruck and I've always wanted to feel like Cher did the night she got all dressed up to go to the opera.  Well, I did!  It was such a memorable evening I don't know if anything could ever top it!

 

Lincoln Center is grand and elegant. 

 

 

The story of La Boheme is beautiful and tragic.  There are screens on the back of the seats which translate the opera in English.  It makes it so much more enjoyable.

 

 

Intermission was a fabulous tall glass of cold champagne.

Midnight dinner after the opera was at Telepan Restaurant which is a few blocks away from Lincoln Center.  Chef Bill Telepan is also an award wining chef and the food was amazing.  This was the first course.

Next morning after shopping and lunch at our favorite little restaurant in Chelsea, Chris suggested we go to MarieBelle Chocolates in SoHo on Broome Street.  This little chocolate bistro is as close to Paris as you can get in New York City.

The cocoa was so delicious and sooo hot.  On a cold afternnon with a beautiful dessert is was just perfect!!

 

 That evening we had drinks at the Brandy Library in Tribeca.  

After that a late dinner at our favorite Indian restaurant in Tribeca called Tamarind.

Sunday morning we met our children at the train station and did a little shopping.  We had lunch at another favorite restaurant and then headed to the Off Broadway show called Avenue Q.  It was wonderful.  I can't wait to see what else is playing Off-Broadway.

After dinner at one of our favorite restaurants in Little Italy Il Palazzo we had pastry at Ferrara's and then headed home exhausted.   Normally after a weekend like that I would feel down because I never want to come home when I'm having a really good time away but...

 

 

we were hit smack in the face with Thanksgiving right around the corner.

 

I was going to post one of my Thanksgiving recipes but then I realized that everyone has their own recipes so maybe it would be more interesting to post some recipes for the left-overs.  Martha Stewart's November magazine was really good.  Now I'm looking forward to turkey sandwiches after reading these two recipes. 

I'm sorry this is a little cut off but it's the ingredients she uses in her sandwich I wanted to share with you.  I'm making hard boiled eggs because I'm eating that sandwich this weekend!

 

Finally, my daughter Kristen's art work appears in all different forms in her college newspaper.  The other day when I picked up the paper I said OK a mom knows her kids and I sure know Kristen created this cartoon!  I guess it says it all!!

 

 

Thank you for visiting my blog and taking another wonderful adventure with me.  I hope I've given you some ideas of different things to do in New York City.  We always wanted to see an opera but went to see Broadway plays instead.  I always wanted to see an Off-Broadway play but never did.  Now we have more options as if we need them in such an amazing city.  But it feels good to try something different and have the outcome be just perfect!

I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!  I have some fabulous posts for Christmas so please stay tuned!