Breakfast Story ~ in NYC ~

I love SoHo in NYC of early mornings.

Less people, not like hustle and bustle of day time.

Just calm and glorious.

Right after leaving the hotel, taking a deep breath, feeling grateful, sensing the day is going to be great!

When I am in NYC. I don't want to go out from SoHo.
It's good just strolling around.
I just love this place. Especially early mornings and very late nights.

I was heading to some "French" place.
So... I role played like "Last Tango in Paris". :)
I loved the fashion in that movie. So.. I just imitated it. 

Then, arrived to the restaurant!
Ladurée
398 West Broadway

Pretty inside too.

I sat in the next room.

I heard most of the stuff speaks French.
This place is like Paris in NYC.
(Well... I'd love to write about the breakfasts in "real" Paris next time :) )

Happy to look at the menu.

AND....

This was the best breakfast ever!!

French toast served with raspberry sauce and rose whipped cream

I LOVED rose whipped cream!!

It was so delicious when it melts on a warm french toast....

I had another one on a previous day...

(Yes. I went there 2 mornings in row...)

Eggs Benedict

This was also SO delicious! So well made.

My best Eggs Benedict was at NORMA'S @ Le Parker Meridien Hotel NY.

But this is very delicious. Just "missing something" visually. ;)

Bread, eggs, sauce, temperature, volume... everything was great!

On the way back, I bought roses to my friends.

When I returned to the hotel, I found a message on my table, said " Look inside the refrige..." 
They sent me some bottles of delicious yogurt. :)
It made me smile that both of us had mutual thoughts at the same time... to send sweet things each other. :)

After the breakfast and nice walk, it's time to enjoy "me time" in my favorite hotel room.

Taking long time sinking in a bathtub, listening to my favorite music. 

It's beautiful especially when there comes up beautiful "shades" on a red brick wall.

I love spending mornings like this. :)

2014 Christmas trip to NYC Day1

Long time not having written the blogs.

Today, just feeling like writing something hopefully “cool”.

Well… My last note looks back in 2013!

So… I will start re-writing from comparably near past.

OK! Please let me share about my previous previous oversea travel to NYC!

My 11 days in NYC were like surreal, beautiful and fun.

Staying at my favorite hotel, surrounded by wonderful friends and went to lots of great concerts!

Each day was so memorable, sparkling and special like a dreamland to me.

Day1, here I am writing is also not the exception.

*Flight

Had extremely comfortable flight from Narita to JFK.

Very kind flight attendant made my next booth “a bed room” for me!

Looking at my bedroom from my usual room :)


Woo hoo! When I woke up… I was already flying over the North America.

Such a short and great flight, though it was for about 13hrs!

*Hotel
I’m always so happy coming back to my favorite hotel in the center of SoHo.
Feeling like very at home.

Most people there are knowing each other.

*Makeover by a professional makeup artist
My friend Linda Elmani is the amazing makeup artist.
All the ladies can be the diva after the 1.5hrs magic of her.
I didn’t show “before” photo. (Just forget taking it), but here is the one of “after”.

(No photoshoping!)

She is a real “beauty magician”. I want to learn how to “make” the faces and the texture of the skin.

She is so great in person too.

It is always special to ask her my makeups.

*Concert

Day 1 of Chris Botti concerts was amazing!

His tone of trumpet is the most beautiful.

My life is not the same without his music.

His music always makes me happy.

And his attitude on music always makes me inspired.

His music was made by his continuous efforts and self-controllness.

And of course the love and inspirations.

World’s greatest things are made when the remarkably talented person makes remarkable efforts.

Talent + efforts…. Both should be required.

I believe that it applies to Mr. Chris Botti.

So much respect.

Ah! On this day, Sting was the guest singer having hit at the stage of Blue Note together with Chris Botti and the amazing band!

Well…

Day one was like a dream-day…

Great flight, great hotel, professional makeup and my favorite concert…

All those things happened in one day!

~Concert Journal~ Jan/31/2013 @ Suntory Hall

~Concert Journal~

Jan/31/2013  at Suntory Hall  in Tokyo

19:00 – 21:00

Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra

Dir: Yannick Nézet-Séguin

Soloist: Shoji Sayaka

Program:

1. Schumann:"Genoveva"Overture Op.81

2. Prokofiev: Violin Concerto in G minor Op.63　

3. BWV.1001 adagio

- - 20min recess - -

4. Brahms:Symphony No.4 in E minor Op.98

5. Brahms Serenades No. 1 Scherzo

Orchestra performed beautiful.

Impressed by its beautiful structure even for details.

Sayaka’s violin was BEAUTIFUL….  She came up to the stage in a lovely red dress.

Her violin (Stradivarius Recamier) sounded just beautiful.

My question was… If I am allowed… and I have….. “Is Prokofiev’s violin concerto simple and easy to play?”

Seems to ME, it looked that she played such simple and easy, with wide margin.

In terms of “Thrill”, no thrill.  

It was the first time for me to see violin concerto, so not sure…. But volume was always like that?

To me, I felt that it was a bit low.  (Or probably my seat was bit far from the stage to listen to violin concerto)

But again, I emphasize that her violin sounded BEAUTIFUL and GRACEFUL. I loved that!!

Seguin conducted great!  Filled with young energy. He is obviously talented. He made a whole structure great and detail elegantly.

I was amazed by Brahms. I LOVE Brahms!!! I want to know more and more about Brahms!!

I've decided that I will depart for journeys to explore the best Brahms!!

It must be exciting to listen to various Brahms’…. By various conductors + Orchestras + Halls + chemistry.  

Classical music is interesting… score is the same. (Of course there are several revisions, but probably… mostly the same, right?)

But sounding different by conductors, orchestras, halls and chemistry! (and where to sit too!)

So.. it would be exciting to travel for Brahms!

I loved the performance of tonight! No. 4 is beautiful.  (I felt myself that body heat raised up, my cheeks became red and even it made my mouth water!) Orchestra + Seguin were great!

I felt that they “saved” their energy for Brahms!!  Sounded to ME, energy and chemistry for Brahms was greater than previous songs!

Regarding volume, it was probably due to my seating. My seat was 1F a bit backward-right.

Not sure.. but probably… it would be better sitting forward to enjoy violin concerto.  (maybe…)

Thanks Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra,  Yannick Nézet-Séguin and  Shoji Sayaka!

You are amazing. I enjoyed the concert A LOT!

After 11/Mar/2011 in Japan

11/Mar/2011 is the day that 3 tragedies happened on the same day in Japan.
M9.0 quake, Huge Tsunami and the nuke accident.

First of all, please let me say "may your souls rest in peace" for all the victims of 11/Mar/2011.
And please let me send the best wishes to their families.
And I do hope more people can make it back alive, and can find family members who are missing.
And Hope all the people who are forced to leave home can receive enough supplies soon.
-I hope all the copters in Japan could come to those people...-

Please let me send my huge appreciations especially to them as below.
They are doing their responsibilities at the risks even of loosing their lives.
- Japan Self-Defense Forces
- Emergency rescue teams from foreign countries
   As of today 16 countries, over 800 people are working for Japanese people.
   And many more countries are offering to send their rescue teams.
- Many people who are working for Fukushima nuclear plants.
  They are working hardly in order to stop the worst stuff.

I have been so much heartbroken and couldn't stop watching TV.
After a few days passed, I realized that I had to stop it.
Because I cannot support those people just by watching TV.
I cannot work like them who are mentioned above.
So I made a donation while hoping it can be used in a good way.

I've heard from here and there that people who are close to epicenter are doing very respectfully while helping each other.

Meanwhile, I am kind of dubious about what people in Tokyo are doing....
(Oh, including me!!)
I think, now we are required to stay cool & smart to do our own responsibilities.
Because we cannot support anyone while not doing all fine by ourselves.
That's true that we are still feeling scared by every day's aftershocks and blackout.
And also, we got scared since some media is cascading how to avoid radiation.
-The fact is that no need to do that in Tokyo!-
I think,  now the time for us to appreciate for what people are doing to us/others and EVERYTHING.
And to get to know that everybody has own responsibilities, and they are different for each.
No need to deplore that we cannot support victims like a professional rescue team, but it should be okay to do things that we CAN while doing our own responsibilities.
By doing that, we can enjoy our lives as long as we CAN.
If we can have dinner tonight, that's so happy. If we can enjoy live music, that's very happy, and that they are deserved to be appreciated!
And all of us should be deserved to lead our lives happily!

Please show my limitless appreciations to all of my friends.
Not only in Japan but also from overseas...
You've sent the remarkably kind thoughts to me via phone, emails, Facebook, Twitter.... THANK YOU!!!
That means a lot!!
I believe that to think of someone is the "positive energy" itself and it must reach whom we think of.
So are your thoughts!!

At the end, please share this story....
One of my friend said that "I am feeling frustrated since I cannot do anything to the victims...."
I told him that "No no no.... your country sent the rescue such quickly -so appreciated!- and that rescue is working by the tax that you paid to your government! And above all, how so precious your kind thought is!! "

WITH MUCH LOVE AND APPRECIATIONS!!

Ate Prayed Loved in Sicilia

-Sicilia travel sketch-


" ATE, PRAYED, LOVED"

Yes. I ate, prayed and loved in Sicily this time.

"ATE"

Look at some photos.

Olive oil, lemon, porchini, fish.... very nicely cooked.

"Mangiare" in Sicily with Sicilian friends was such a fun!

A lot of talk, laughter never stops.

2nd dinner after St.Agatha



3rd dinner at the last day...look at the wall! it reminded me of the movie "Amelie"! Such a lovely restaurant!

pasta on a fried pizza

horse meat (which I can't eat, but Sicilian people love it)

First dinner at a pub just after landed in Catania! this is a starter for 4 ppl! still a loooot and yum!

1st pizza in Italy! Yes! very yummy!!

"PRAYED"

We are so lucky HAPPENED to visit Sicily (Catania) right on the big festival day, called "St. Agatha".

It is a huge festival to pray for St. Agatha.

Crowd of people were gathered to a place, and enjoy music, water spectacle and fireworks.

I was amazed to see them!

Do you see the crowd of people in the photo below?

First, we enjoyed watching the orchestra which was made only for this festival.

One of our colleague was joined the orchestra as a singer. What a honor of him!

And next, water spectacle started.
It was amazing, synchronized with music.
Next, fireworks started. sometimes with water performance.
That fireworks were huge. No interval and numerous of numbers!
We all said WOW for those performances.
This is the most important festival in Catania and that it was televised.
It was hilarious that I heard that our faces were on-aired for 4 times during the festival!
One time was my close-up for long time! I did the best smile and waved!! LOL
At the next day at the office, some of the colleagues said that they watched us on TV!
How funny! We had a lot of fun at that festival.
Less prayed actually... :))

 lit up

the other side of the place

color was changing

the orchestra which was organized only for this day!

collaboration of fireworks and water performance(left bottom)

do you see the crowd of people!!??

That was wow!

Another fireworks for people on the other side!

"LOVED"
I know, I might be stupid to mention about this in the blog,
But can't hide this feeling! Mamma Mia!.... I've forgotten such feeling looong time!
I am so grateful to remember how wonderful falling love is!!
Hope it goes well.... possibly....!

one ally in the evening. beautiful, isn't it?  

Sunrise from the Mediterranean sea! First time for me to see Mediterranean sea which I'd wanted to see!

One of my colleague gave me a big orange which is VERY SICILY! Cute isn't it? and had good smell!

Mt.Etna! I saw it finally at the last minutes in Catania! It was covered with clouds for previous 2 days. At the last morning, it finally appeared! So touched! :)

 

beach in front of the hotel. last minutes walking. peaceful time! 

 Beach, Mt.Etna, Catania town. Beautiful view!

 Mt.Etna from the plane

THIS IS TAORMINA!!!! (right bottom)  Birth place of  Cinema Paradiso!!!!!

I listened to "Cinema Paradiso" of Chris Botti while looked down this!!! It was one of the most pleasure moments. I actually didn't know exactly where Taormina is. (just know the roughly location)

However, I found that it was Taormina on seeing it! Because it was totally different from other places even just looked down from the plane.

It looked such a pretty little place on the cliffs. I definitely would LOVE to visit there next time!

It must be Taormina. Because I checked the geography now! :)