Thank Goodness for Bobo

    

    This fall, I am spending two days a week interning at The Calhoun School on the UWS for my school counseling degree. It is an absolutely wonderful school filled with kind teachers and sweet students. I have learned loads about school counseling and progressive education, and I feel very blessed that my mentor took me on for the fall. I could go on and on about the school, but the foodie in me has to tell you about their chef. Yes, a real chef. Chef Bobo is a big celebrity at Calhoun. He is a huge advocate of teaching kids about healthy eating, sustainable foods, and exploring their palates. He knows Michele Obama my friends.
 
     Each day a menu is posted of some gorgeous, restaurant style entree with a creative soup, over the top sandwich, and ever present salad bar. I can't even tell you the difference this man is making for this school and me. (teachers eat free!) Some of my favorite eats have been: squash soup, oven fried catfish, kale with raisins, pesto and mozzarella sandwiches, bucatinne pasta, veggie meatloaf, and sunbutter and quince sandwiches. Love. I see kids eating fresh figs for goodness sakes! It's so exciting to see kids excited about food. I am convinced there is a happy mood and positive energy at the school because of Chef Bobo. He is a cooking genius in my book and in the heart of Calhoun.

For more information on Chef Bobo: https://www.calhoun.org/boboblog?rc=1

R.I.P. iPhone

Well I did it. I made it into a NYPD car! Wish it had been under better circumstances, but at least there were no handcuffs involved.

My iPhone and I parted ways on Saturday night on the N train. I was sitting by the door, a big "no no" I am told, and this little hooligan just snatched it right out of my hand. By the time I realized what was happening, I was flying down the stairs after him and chasing him down the street. About that time, my little brain said, "Katie, what are you doing?" You won't catch him and if you do...then what? I think I even shouted some harsh phrase like, "Hey, give that back!" I am a pretty intimidating Texan, but even I have limits.

   After the defeat set in, I toddled back to the 36th street station and informed the poor MTA attendant of my sad story. He called the police, I watched many sketchy folk enter and exit the subway station, and then I drove around with the police for half an hour searching for my perpetrator. Shockingly, it was raining and we never found him, and the police sent me home with some subway safety tips. I continually apologized to them for taking up their valuable time looking for a phone. I felt so silly!

There has been a 40% increase in crime surrounding Apple products on the subway in NYC lately. There was even a news story about it on Sunday. Almost famous. I am thankful that the kid just ran off with it, and that was all that happened. I have Pat's 3G until January when I can get an upgrade and not pay one-million dollars. Be careful out there friends! It's a dangerous place for an Apple.

All About Astoria

After a full two months in my new borough, I am feeling quite well aquatinted with Astoria. I am not an expert yet, but I have definitely gotten a handle on the local vibe.

I was a bit nervous to leave my comfortable spot in Manhattan. However I very much like Astoria. It's quieter, filled with just the right proportion of families and hipsters, and has a lot of character. Groceries are less expensive, there is no sight or sound of rats, and less waiting in line for a table on a Friday night. Pat and I have some sweet friends here, and I am starting to feel like I am part of this new community.

Some of my favorite things are the Fresh Start Market where I pick up my CSA veggies each week, the train being above ground so I can see the world instead of feeling like a mole, the view from Astoria park (pictured above), and all the new food spots to try out. The ever present gaggle of Greek grandpas is also a highlight. They are everywhere. They're on benches and sitting outside shops in chairs just watching the world go by. One can't help but adore them!

I am sure I will have much more to report on this cute new borough in the future! Stay tuned...

America the Beautiful

America the Beautiful

At the beginning of August, Pat and I set out on a whirlwind cross country trip. His parents have a retirement home in Tucson, AZ, and needed a car brought out for the future. We happily volunteered. It was such a fabulous trip, but I haven't sat down to write about it until now. This immediacy could be spurred on by the fact that I start school tomorrow. Alas, it had to happen sometime. No whining here. 

Anyhow, here was our route: Boston to Niagara Falls to Cleveland to Chicago to St. Louis to OKC to Amarillo to Santa Fe/Albuquerque to Tucson. Just under 3500 miles!

We loved seeing the USA from the car! Each morning we would set out for our next destination and read up in the car about what to do there. We stayed with friends some places, like Chicago, St. Louis, Boston, Albuquerque, and of course Amarillo with my family. Other places, we would just drive and find a hotel. Some of our sightseeing highlights included: Niagara Falls (STUNNING), the Sears Tower, the St. Louis Arch, Lincoln's Tomb, the Mississippi River, the play "Texas" in Palo Duro Canyon, and the Miraculous Staircase. In addition to the sights was the food. Our journey began at a delicious BBQ with Pat's friends from college. Then we ate at Wegmans, a Chicago dog at the Sox Game, BBQ at Piggy Pats, custard in St. Louis, Lola in Cleveland, Mama Thamer's cooking, lunch at the Shed in Santa Fe, Mrs. Pierce's brownies, and lots of Mexican food in Arizona. Such great eating adventures! We also got to stop and buy green chiles in Hatch, New Mexico which I have always wanted to do. They are sitting in my freezer as we speak.

The trip was great for Pat and I too. We didn't have any, "Am I going to have to pull this car over?" moments. Pat killed a giant grasshopper that jumped onto my leg while I was driving. Heroic in my book! We listened to books, music, radio, bad radio, and the wind in our hair from the Jeep. We thanked God for our GPS and iPhones that helped us immensely. Those may be the two things that kept our trip so smooth. All in all, a fabulous experience. If you have the chance to drive cross country, do it! It makes you appreciate the open road, the diversity of our country, and the people on the journey with you.

Down on the Farm, Up in the Catskills

After a summer of nonstop fun, I ventured out one last time to the Catskills mountains. My friend, Rosalind, rents a condo there for the month of August and invited me up for a few days.
Little did I know I was diving right into the local farm food haven that I love. The Catskill mountains are gorgeous and very fertile. They house many of the organic farms that feed into NYC's farmers markets and CSAs. There are also lots of dairies with big, beautiful Jersey cows to make fresh milk, cheese, and yogurt. I spent three days immersed in gorgeous produce eating kale, heirloom tomatoes, sweet corn, and fresh potato salad. My little foodie heart was bursting!
I was impressed with the numerous stands on the side of the road selling fresh corn, eggs, fruit, honey, and other lovely things. However, I wondered why no one was in these stands, but Ros told me that you just go in and grab what you need and leave the money in a lock box. What?? And these honest shops exist only 2 hours from NYC!?
We took this farm to table thought a bit farther on Thursday and Friday by volunteering at two farms in the morning. We weeded parsley for 3 hours the first morning and picked veggies like rainbow chard, scallions, kale, and herbs the second day at Lucky Dog Farms. It was a fantastic experience for me! Also, what hard, back breaking work! My back and leg muscles were screaming at me. Maybe because I sat in a car for two weeks on a road trip (post on that later in the week). Anyhow, I will never complain about the price of organic veggies again. That is hot, and grueling work. I learned I am definitely a city girl...to the max. Dirt under my fingernails is not my favorite look.
Everyone needs to visit the villages of the Catskills. They are charming as can be, and are filled with delicious food and kind people. It was a sweet treat to end my summer with!

Impressions of Greece

Parthenon in Athens

Greek Bible College 

Beautiful Beach in Rafina

Sweet friend Bekah

Athens @ sunset

It's been a little over a week since I returned from lovely Greece. I am still processing the experience, and after a crazy fast move on Wednesday, it may take a little longer than I thought.

I got the opportunity to travel to Greece through my masters program at Liberty University. I am in their online program for school counseling, and am required to take 4 intensives. So, I traveled to the Greek Bible College in Athens to take one in group counseling. They planned excursions for us to Ancient Corinth, the island of Andros, and I took a quick trip to another island, Mykonos with friends.

Rather than try to recount all my experiences, I will just leave you with some of my thoughts & impressions of Greece:

1.Greece, ESP the islands, is the most beautiful country I have ever seen. Hands down. The mix of tall, arid mountains and a coastline of clear turquoise waters is indescribable. Just go see it. You must find a way to make that happen.

2. The food was fantastic! Great Greek salads topped with a big slab of feta, luscious tomatoes, oregano flavored potato chips, and my favorite were the French fries that were fried in olive oil. Yumm!! They also eat bread with every meal in Greece, which I don't think is included in the Mediterranean diet books.

3. Greece is so old! Between the acropolis in Athens and Corinth, I saw things over 2,500 years old! We are talking B.C. people!

4. There was awesome shopping in Athens! A neighborhood below the acropolis, called Plaka, is filled to the brim with trinkets stores, olive wood shops, handmade Greek sandals, tapestries, and bakeries. I spent a lot of time there, and had to eventually stop the hemorrhaging of money. Thank goodness my trip was only 10 days!

5. I met some very kind people, both Greek and American, that I really enjoyed getting to know. There were a few run ins with the Greeks, but I used my NYC street smarts to handle that! ;)

Everyone needs to go to Greece! Even if it's just for the french fries.

Dinner on Lycabettus Hill overlooking Athens

Lycabettus Hill-highest point in Athens

On our way to Mykonos on the ferry


Kim & Maurice in Mykonos

Windmills of Mykonos

Paradise Beach in Mykonos

New Adventures

Write Blog....it's been sitting on my to do list for about 2 months. I am not sure why I have been absent so long. It's been a busy time with finishing up a great school year, traveling to the Dominican Republic with my best friend Susanna, studying abroad in Greece, and packing to move to Astoria tomorrow! Whew, I probably shouldn't even be blogging now, but there's no time like the present.

I feel a little sad to be leaving this beautiful neighborhood that welcomed me into NYC two years ago. This morning, I made my last routine laundry at Bubbles on Broadway/run in Riverside park/Absolute Bagel run. There are several things I will miss seeing. I will miss the Dominican men that sit outside their stoop all day everyday, my grocery store, "Garden of Eden," the view of the city when I look down my street each morning, the Catholic church on 107th, the access to Central and Riverside park, and the smell of mexican foods cooking in my apartment building. The walk up to my fifth floor apartment, not going to miss as much. :) I am so thankful for these past two years here and the memories I have made.

Tomorrow the "Movers of Oz" will arrive and take my belonging to Astoria. I am moving in with my wonderful boyfriend, Pat. We are excited to start a new adventure there. I look forward exploring a new neighborhood filled with cultures from all over the world and will fill you in here on the blog about it all. 

Hope you're all enjoying the pleasure of summer- watermelon, berries, cold drinks, sun, the beach, and sandals. 

xoxo

Hellgate Bridge seen from Astoria Park