FROM THE OTHER SIDE

A weekend in the life of a soon to be ironman (at least half a...

Mon, 20 May 2013 08:01:00 -0400

A weekend in the life of a soon to be ironman (at least half a one and a woman). Late last week I agreed to run in the Brooklyn Half Marathon as a friend of a friend had to pull out. Yes at this point it seems I can make 13 mile run decisions like that! I ran to train, for fun, with a friend - it was no race pace. I found out on the morning that we were to finish at Coney Island. I had planned to get there at some point but never thought I would arrive on foot!
It was great to explore a new part of town, I especially enjoyed Prospect Park and the final stretch along the Coney Island boardwalk. Shame it was cloudy but must say it was a good temp for running. On Sunday I was all set to head to Connecticut for bike training, alas I woke up to miserable rain (and sore legs) and opted out. Instead my trainer made its NY debut….I quite enjoyed my 2 hour ride - and movie! Not sure it was quality but hey I gave it a go. 5 more weeks till the big day!

Morning and night, will never get sick of the views from N33G...

Mon, 20 May 2013 07:28:40 -0400

Morning and night, will never get sick of the views from N33G #newyork #sunrise #sunset

On the bike! My training for the half ironman has been really...

Wed, 08 May 2013 18:38:00 -0400

ice coffee stop, we were 3 hours into a 5 hour ride at this point. That's Jen putting her bike in the rack.

Couldn't resist a quick pic from George Washington on the ride home.

So pretty running through the blossoms adjacent to the reservoir in Central Park.

Just some suburban style scenery as we rode beyond Nyack.

On the bike!

My training for the half ironman has been really intense over the past few weeks. In particular, I have ridden the past 3 Saturdays consecutively over increasing distances, first 50 miles, then 60 and last Sat 70 miles. That’s 110km, I can hardly believe it myself. We always follow our long rides up with a run (20 min, 30 min, 45 min) and then the next day, Sunday, is our loooong run. Last week it was 1 hour 45 minutes for me.

I must say I have never ever, ever, felt so physically wiped out from training before. So it was a great relief (sort of) to get an email informing us that this week is a light training one. I do appreciate my body needs some time out. I am definitely relishing the extra sleep.

Anyway, the photos above were taken on the weekend, mostly on the bike ride but also running through the blossoms in the park. I might complain about the hard work, but I absolutely appreciate the side of New York my training brings me. Yes I was grimacing as I ran on Sunday, but I still managed to stop and take photos because I was blown away by the prettiness. And after it was all done, I was really able to look back and smile at both what I’d accomplished AND all that I’d gotten out and seen. Seems I have become a triathlete after all.

The great moving challenge - from Columbus Circle, to Columbus Circle!

Wed, 08 May 2013 18:22:00 -0400

I totally love moving - said nobody EVER! Moving to NY was kind of exciting but it was still...

Pitching. I have been Tumblr absent these past 2 weeks....

Mon, 06 May 2013 07:35:24 -0400

Pitching.

I have been Tumblr absent these past 2 weeks. That’s because in my line of work new business is an all encompassing affair. But it’s over now and these are the smiles to prove it.

Somehow I managed to keep the training going and to move at the same time. Crazy, right?

My birthday, 2013 - perfection!

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 10:38:25 -0400

My birthday, 2013 - perfection!

Confessions of an NYC bargainista: The Chanel $1,000 challenge

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 16:13:17 -0400

Confessions of an NYC bargainista: The Chanel $1,000 challenge: nycbargainista: If you had $1,000...

My Sydney, my family, I leave tonight…..sob. Still I have...

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 01:51:18 -0400

My Sydney, my family, I leave tonight…..sob. Still I have lots to look forward to on the other side - so I will put one foot in front of the other and board the plane AND no doubt thoroughly enjoy it.

Hawaiian stop over on route to home sweet home. So worth it,...

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 22:55:55 -0400

Hawaiian stop over on route to home sweet home. So worth it, definitely the best way to fly from NY to Sydney. So very glad to be doing the same on the return leg!

Hot cross buns, hot cross buns, one a penny, two a penny hote...

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 18:11:00 -0400

Hot cross buns, hot cross buns, one a penny, two a penny hote cross buns.

Yesterday was Easter Sunday, my first since moving to NYC. I have to say Easter is altogether a much bigger event in Australia as evidenced following:

We have Good Friday and Easter Monday as National Public holidays
There are more easter eggs on the shelves - far more
We take our hot cross buns seriously, they are a national delicacy even

Last week as the weekend loomed and my appetite for easter buns accelerated I made the mistake of ordering one at my local (and very posh) bakery - Bouchon Bakery. I was sorely disappointed, the dough was white and there was frosting on the top. Feeling dejected I realized they do them differently around here.

Alas, my house mate caught wind of the fact that the Australian owned and operated cafe - Toby’s Estate - in Brooklyn was going to offer up the real deal. At least the real deal as we know it.

So my Easter day started out (well after my 15km run anyway) with a train trip to Brooklyn. I have to say it was well worth it. Not even the $3.50 price tag could deter me, I snapped up 8 of the little beauties. The coffee at Toby’s was icing on the cake, all up I experienced a little slice of Easter heaven Aussie style, care of Brooklyn NYC.

But that’s not the biggest news of the day, the biggest news of the day is that I am a mere two sleeps from a 10 day trip home. Sydney here I come!

Soon to be half an iron woman.

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 22:07:44 -0400

This week I finally took the plunge and did what I’ve been threatening to do for a few months...

What I did today….. NYC Half Marathon - what an awesome course...

Sun, 17 Mar 2013 23:05:00 -0400

What I did today…..

NYC Half Marathon - what an awesome course iconic and not too tough. My style all round! So much so that I managed to take almost 9 minutes off my personal record for a 1/2 and finish in 1.45.04. To be fair that’s faster than I ever thought I could run.

It was cold but there were also beautiful blue skies. Actually, I can’t explain just how much I enjoyed it, words won’t do it justice.

So, if you want to understand more, you will just have to get yourself involved next year. Promise you won’t regret it!

Entertaining NYC style. In week 2 of my friend Jenni’s...

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 14:34:00 -0400

Sensationsal girls lunch at Avoce

Buddakan, seem to have stuffed up the red eye reduction on this one!

Cori's bday

Cori's awesome bday celebrations - CC's Chinatown

On the menu @ the Spotted Pig

Enjoying a pre dinner drink at the Mandarin Oriental

Il Buco - carb loading complete!

The always delicious Avocado toast and Couscous at Cafe Gitane

And that's Jess Hart enjoying Cafe Gitane too!

Entertaining NYC style. In week 2 of my friend Jenni’s visit, we visited many of my favorite NYC restaurants. And boy did we eat some fine food. She left yesterday and it’s diet time for me! Here’s the wrap up.

Buddakan - love love love. This is the restaurant in the first Sex and the City movie during the pre wedding (that didn’t happen) dinner. It’s an old favorite and somewhere I take every guest I have as it’s just so impressively New York and the food is amazing. If you go make sure to order the Edamame Dumplings and the Chilli Rock Shrimp. The espresso martini isn’t bad either. Or the haze cocktail. I could go on.
Avoce - this was my fist visit and we went for a girls lunch after a spot of yoga at Equinox downstairs. It was fairly quiet, but what it lacked in atmosphere it made up for in beautiful food. They had me at the bread. Amaze!
CC’s cafe, Cori’s birthday dinner (one of the lovely girls I’ve met through Terrier Tri squad). This was a small cafe in China town. Not chinese at all but such a great spot for a private dinner. We had the main table - which is usually communal. The food was great and there was even a reggae band playing. Super fun night, Cori is tops.
Rosa Mexicano. The best guacamole in the whole wide world, amazingly good margaritas and there’s one around the corner from my house. Can’t go wrong. They do mexican far better on this side of the globe that’s for sure and for certain.
Spotted Pig. Another old favorite and one I will go back to again and again (and again). In the heart of the West Village, a little old English in style, always super crowded giving it a pulse of New York sort of feel. I usually have the burger which is quite simply the best burger in New York - maybe even the world. And it comes with divine fries (or hot chips as us Aussies like to call them). This time I lashed out and had the lamb shank. Far too much for one person but I gave it a red hot go. Feeling ill from over eating we then ordered the banoffi pie to share. Somehow I managed to enjoy it despite the full tummy - so it must have been delicious.
Mandarin Oriental - followed by Sushi Damo. Mandarin Oriental is a great spot for a pre dinner cocktail, gorgeous Central Park views, you need to get there pre sunset to really make the most of it. After that we hit up Sushi Damo for a light meal post the excesses of the week which was just what the Doctor (at least the diet Dr) ordered.
Il Buco Alimentari e Vineria On Friday night I decided to try a new restaurant. Using the Times ‘The Scoop’ app, I chose an Italian place not too far from where we happened to be sitting having our nails painted. Mainly because I was two sleeps from the NYC Half Marathon and carb loading was in order. Funnily, once we got there I immediately realized I’d been there before - but in better news I loved it THEN and AGAIN. Il Buco has an amazing buzzing vibe, the food is indulgently brilliant (get the ricotta for a starter) and whilst I only had one vino, I savored every last sip. Oh and a big tick on the carb loading front too!
Cafe Gitane. On Jenni’s last day we set out with the express intention of celebrity spotting. This place rarely disappoints and I’m pleased to say once again we scored (Jess Hart of Victoria’s Secret modeling fame and mega rich shipping tycoon boyfriend Stavros Niarchos). The place fills with a young chic wanna be seen and scene type crowd - so we fit right in (haha). The coffee and food are both winners as well. We split the avocado toast and a couscous (chicken), which are both utterly sensational.

It’s been quite a week!

timeoutnewyork: 11. Because in the summer, you can see tons of...

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 11:44:23 -0400

timeoutnewyork:

11. Because in the summer, you can see tons of world-class music and performance art without spending a dime

12. Because of bodega cats

13. Because it’s impossible to feel nerdy here

50 reasons why NYC is the greatest city in the world: http://tmout.us/ispjx

What is your reason?

Remember to embrace it at every opportunity!

I had to go to Chicago this week for work (again) but this time...

Sun, 10 Mar 2013 13:25:00 -0400

Jenni in the snow

view from the hotel gym

Gilt Bar deliciousness

El Ideas kitchen

6 of the 12 El Ideas courses!

Jenni watching the chefs

El Ideas

dumped!

El Ideas curtains!

Pretty Chicago in the snow

I had to go to Chicago this week for work (again) but this time was a little more fun as my vacationing buddy came with me. We arrived to a snow storm - Winter Storm Saturn - much to Jenni’s excitement. It literally dumped making the city super pretty to wake up to.

In terms of entertainment, we went to a couple of fantastic restaurants. The first night was Gilt Bar, super funky spot apparently very Chicago and the food was delicious. The second night, we really hit the ball out of the park at the very awesome El Ideas. This place was more than a restaurant, it was a full on dining experience. The menu is fixed degustation (12 courses of it!) and they prepare everything in an open kitchen where you can watch and talk to them throughout. Each course is introduced by the host and the food not only tasted wonderful, the presentation was thoroughly excellent. If you visit Chicago, I totally recommend it. But you need to book well in advance as the restaurant only seat 18 diners - which adds to the magic as well.

I didn’t do any site seeing as I was at the office, but the walk to work at least was really pretty in the snow - as you can see above!

Friends. I do love having visitors, for many reasons, one of...

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 14:51:00 -0500

Friends. I do love having visitors, for many reasons, one of which is I get out and about this wonderful city more than usual, playing tourist. And all of this happened on day one of Jenni’s first ever visit to NYC.

Day two in Roscoe, we did not go Skiing….but we did manage...

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 18:48:37 -0500

Day two in Roscoe, we did not go Skiing….but we did manage to completely relax and spend some quality time with our 3 little girls in the country (yes Chilli Sparkles is one of them). I feel super blessed after spending my second weekend at our friends river house in Roscoe. Such lovely, generous, clever and fun people - the adults and the kiddies. And maybe one of them is even going to be famous one day. You heard it here first.

Weekend fun, skiing in up state NY - Belleayre to be precise. It...

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 05:56:00 -0500

Weekend fun, skiing in up state NY - Belleayre to be precise. It was cold and grey but still awesome to be in the fresh air, blood pumping flying (sort of) down the mountain. Love the Catskills!

And what a beautiful spring sunrise it is!

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 07:05:57 -0500

And what a beautiful spring sunrise it is!

1st day of Spring :)

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 06:30:09 -0500

1st day of Spring :)