Hope everyone gets to enjoy this day and share you affection with your loved ones.
Thank you DD BB!!
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Please Help the Hurricane Sandy Victims!!
First of all, hope everyone on the east coast is safe and sound. The storm was definitely devastating and impacted the lives of too many.
Although I was not fortunate enough to leave NYC the day before the storm hits, NYC is always my hometown, where my family and friends are, it is absolutely heartbreaking to see that the city and the area I grew up in ended up in damages like these: (http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/shocking-before-after-photos-of-hurricane-sandy)
.JPG)
I want to do as much as possible to help out like other volunteers out there. The runners of NYC marathon volunteered to help out running supplies to Staten Island, even though the race was canceled; hundreds of charities are contributing in different ways - food drive, blood drive, soup kitchen, clean up, debris removal, clothing drive etc.; companies are helping out by raising funds for disaster relief and allowing employees to take volunteer days. Please consider helping the victims if you can because the mere fact that we are giving instead of receiving means that we are very fortunate already. I've maximized my donation effort by getting company matching contribution to charities, my mom helped me to donate some old coats to coat drive and helped raising funds in her workplace. Anything will help. Together we will get through this!
Here are some charities that you can donate to:
Red Cross - www.redcross.org, call 800-Red-Cross or text the word "Redcross" to 90999 to make a $10 donation
Salvation Army - www.salvationarmyusa.org
Feeding America - www.feedingamerica.org
Blood Drive - www.nybloodcenter.org or call 800-933-2566
World Vision - www.worldvision.org
Although I was not fortunate enough to leave NYC the day before the storm hits, NYC is always my hometown, where my family and friends are, it is absolutely heartbreaking to see that the city and the area I grew up in ended up in damages like these: (http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/shocking-before-after-photos-of-hurricane-sandy)
.JPG)
I want to do as much as possible to help out like other volunteers out there. The runners of NYC marathon volunteered to help out running supplies to Staten Island, even though the race was canceled; hundreds of charities are contributing in different ways - food drive, blood drive, soup kitchen, clean up, debris removal, clothing drive etc.; companies are helping out by raising funds for disaster relief and allowing employees to take volunteer days. Please consider helping the victims if you can because the mere fact that we are giving instead of receiving means that we are very fortunate already. I've maximized my donation effort by getting company matching contribution to charities, my mom helped me to donate some old coats to coat drive and helped raising funds in her workplace. Anything will help. Together we will get through this!
Here are some charities that you can donate to:
Red Cross - www.redcross.org, call 800-Red-Cross or text the word "Redcross" to 90999 to make a $10 donation
Salvation Army - www.salvationarmyusa.org
Feeding America - www.feedingamerica.org
Blood Drive - www.nybloodcenter.org or call 800-933-2566
World Vision - www.worldvision.org
Friday, August 3, 2012
Box of Dreams
It's a bento box, made up with nine mini bowls of (Chirashi) sashimi over rice. Yes it could've been a large Chirashi or perhaps 18-20pieces of sushi, but this presentation is really creative. The restaurant would ask if you have any allergy or specific fish that you don't eat to ensure that you box is truly a dream not a nightmare. The sashimi are very fresh. Highly recommended!
Hatsuhana Restaurant. 17 E. 48th Street, New York, NY
Häagen-Dazs Exclusive Flavor
Midnight Cookies & Cream!! - Chocolate ice-cream with cookies and cream!! Yum!
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Have you ever paid attention to the performers in the public?
This is surprising! Wish I were there to experience it!
_____________________________________________________________
A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the violin; it was a cold January morning. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, it was calculated that thousands of people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.
Three minutes went by and a middle aged man noticed there was musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried up to meet his schedule. A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman threw the money in the till and without stopping continued to walk. A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was late for work.
The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother tagged him along, hurried but the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on.
In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.
No one knew this but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the best musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written with a violin worth 3.5 million dollars.
Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theater in Boston and the seats average $100.
This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of an social experiment about perception, taste and priorities of people. The outlines were: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context?
One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing the best music ever written, how many other things are we missing?
_____________________________________________________________
A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the violin; it was a cold January morning. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, it was calculated that thousands of people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.
Three minutes went by and a middle aged man noticed there was musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried up to meet his schedule. A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman threw the money in the till and without stopping continued to walk. A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was late for work.
The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother tagged him along, hurried but the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on.
In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.
No one knew this but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the best musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written with a violin worth 3.5 million dollars.
Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theater in Boston and the seats average $100.
This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of an social experiment about perception, taste and priorities of people. The outlines were: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context?
One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing the best music ever written, how many other things are we missing?
Sunday, May 13, 2012
A great song for a lazy Saturday afternoon
On a rainy spring weekend, I tuned to some slow ballads. My playlist is playing a relaxing ballad from the Bee Gees - "How Deep Is Your Love", one of my favorite song. I just love Barry Gibb's voice - so soothing yet passionate.
I know your eyes in the morning sun
I feel you touch me in the pouring rain
And the moment that you wander far from me
I wanna feel you in my arms again
And you come to me on a summer breeze
Keep me warm in your love
Then you softly leave
And it's me you need to show
How deep is your love?
How deep is your love
How deep is your love
I really need to learn
'Cause we're living in a world of fools
Breakin’ us down
When they all should let us be
We belong to you and me
I believe in you
You know the door to my very soul
You're the light in my deepest, darkest hour
You're my saviour when I fall
And you may not think I care for you
When you know down inside
That I really do
And it's me you need to show
How deep is your love?
How deep is your love
How deep is your love
I really need to learn
'Cause we're living in a world of fools
Breakin’ us down
When they all should let us be
We belong to you and me
And you come to me on a summer breeze,
Keep me warm in your love
Then you softly leave
And it's me you need to show
How deep is your love?
How deep is your love
How deep is your love
I really need to learn
'Cause we're living in a world of fools
Breakin’ us down
When they all should let us be
We belong to you and me
Monday, May 7, 2012
Great dinner @ Blackbird
My fiance' and I went to Blackbird last Friday night. @ Michelin rated one star restaurant, the menu looked sophisticated and amazing and the decor was minimalism and simple.
Overwhelmed with choices, we decided to try something different that night and stayed away from the traditional entrees like steak, chicken, fish, lobster. We order the suckling pig for appetizer and creamy mussels soup. They were really savory and delightful. For entrees we got the lamb saddle and rabbit saddle, the traditional game animals that are common on Chicago restaurant menus. All came in small but decent portion and great presentation. We liked the lamb but we LOVED the rabbit dish! The meat was so tender, wrapped with crispy fried skin. It was definitely the best rabbit dish I've had.
We order White Chocolate Mousse and Soft Valrhona Chocolate for dessert, but we also got a free bonus dessert for the small incident during the meal (not worth mentioning). They were all great quality! Price-wise, for a Michelin one star, this is relatively inexpensive.
Strongly recommended!
Overwhelmed with choices, we decided to try something different that night and stayed away from the traditional entrees like steak, chicken, fish, lobster. We order the suckling pig for appetizer and creamy mussels soup. They were really savory and delightful. For entrees we got the lamb saddle and rabbit saddle, the traditional game animals that are common on Chicago restaurant menus. All came in small but decent portion and great presentation. We liked the lamb but we LOVED the rabbit dish! The meat was so tender, wrapped with crispy fried skin. It was definitely the best rabbit dish I've had.
We order White Chocolate Mousse and Soft Valrhona Chocolate for dessert, but we also got a free bonus dessert for the small incident during the meal (not worth mentioning). They were all great quality! Price-wise, for a Michelin one star, this is relatively inexpensive.
Strongly recommended!
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