Christopher's Big New York Adventure

I am launching a new blog called Christopher's Big New York Adventure. It will document my process of moving from Philadelphia to Manhattan by the end of Summer 2008. Check it out!

Azaleas

Here are some azaleas on the campus of Sanford School, where I teach piano Monday through Thursday every week. Pretty!

Concert, MamaLucy visit, Longwood Gardens

First of all, today is my birthday, and I got so many nice greetings from my friends, I feel truly blessed! I love you all :)

Last Friday, April 28, Maria and I played a concert at Immaculata University. It was a really nice event, hosted by the Friends of Music and Jacobs Music, who threw us a lovely dessert reception afterwards! MamaLucy drove up from NC for it, and stayed for the weekend. We hung out all weekend - saw The Counterfeiters on Saturday, then celebrated Meegan's birthday that night at the Continental. On Sunday we had brunch, then drove out to Longwood Gardens - which brings me to my pictures:



They were having an orchid show, which was rather impressive...

I also love their topiary garden, with its bush-critters and weird geometric shapes:

These lillies had an unbelievably strong fragrance:

and I think this was just an enormous hibiscus blossom

Presidents' Day Weekend in NYC

I spent Saturday and Sunday nights in NYC with D.S., just hanging out. We went out for Ethiopian food in the East Village on Saturday night, then went out for a couple drinks. On Sunday we had brunch with Nicol at our favorite spot, Cafe Mogador, did a little shopping (I bought the Rufus Wainwright cd of his Carnegie Hall Judy Garland concert - I love it!)

We went home for a nap, then out for a couple drinks. On Monday, we had lunch at this silly new diner on the Upper East Side - I forget what they were called, but it was packed with families with kids, I guess because it was new and shiny and full of bright colors. We would have run screaming, but we really wanted to try the vegetarian chili and 'tater tots, which were decidedly yummy. We took the bus down to 60th street, went to Borders to use up the rest of my Christmas gift cards (I got Beowulf, Middlesex, and The Joy of Vegan Baking, and still had enough left to buy DS a James Baldwin novel). Then we walked over and took the Roosevelt Island Tramway over to Roosevelt Island. I had never done it before - it was such a warm day, so it was a great time to do it:

The tram is part of the public transit system, so you just swipe your metrocard the same as if taking the subway or a bus. The view was nice.

Once on Roosevelt Island, you can walk along the river and see the skyline, including the United Nations:


All the pictures from this and the last post were taken with my favorite new toy, the Palm Centro. I'm in love with it.

Leslie and the Lys

On the Friday before Presidents' Day weekend, Mark and I went to see Leslie and the Lys at the Northstar bar here in Philly. They put on a great show!

Several people wearing "gem sweaters" (Leslie is the proprietor of the Mobile Museum of Gem Sweaters) were invited on stage, and had their sweaters named by Leslie herself. The ceremony was rather like a faith healing.

new program and concert dates

My piano duo will be presenting a new program, "Celestial Harmonies," in the coming months. We'll be doing music of Mozart, Holst, MacDowell, and George Crumb. Several concert dates are already set. Visit our website, and come see us play!

General Tao's Tofu

It just seemed like the right day to try it. I've been eyeing the recipe for General Tao's Tofu on vegweb.com for some time now. It turned out pretty darn good, if I do say so m'self:

I must say, it's not the healthiest thing, what with the frying and the sweet sauce, but it sure is a treat! Next time, double the sauce, more veggies, less frying.

they like my recipe!

A couple months ago, after I figured out a simple and yummy way to prepare quinoa, I posted the recipe on vegweb.com. I decided to check back and see if the recipe ever got published, since it never appeared right away, and several people had tried it, LIKED it, and reviewed it!

It's basically the same recipe posted below, but here is the official website with the reviews.

Middlebury, VT

Just got back yesterday from a week up and down the east coast. I spent Saturday-Tuesday in Middlebury visiting Beth & kids, arriving just in time to hear little Suzie sing with her a capella group at St. Stephen's church - where I played organ (!) the next morning for Sunday service:

I should have taken a picture of the organ itself; it was my first time playing a tracker, and as a pianist, I actually preferred having the extra resistance in the action. I had to give myself a crash course on how to use it, but it all worked out well. Having Beth by my side giving me cues was also a big help!

While in Vermont, I also got to play Wii for the first time, as well as visit the Otter Creek brewery, and the many cute shops around Middlebury. I also got to visit the auto mechanic and get a rather large bill for two new tires and a complete brake job. There is a waterfall downtown,

and it was cold enough that the spray from the falls was making these cool ice crystal formations:

It also snowed on Tuesday morning, just before I was to drive back to Philly. Pretty!