Giving Thanks - A Visit from My Mother

I am pleased to announce that I had a wonderful time visiting with my mother this past week. She arrived on the Monday evening before Thanksgiving and stayed in my cute Yorkville apartment with me for an entire week. We did all the things we love to do together and, of course, delighted in the beauty and excitement of New York City. On Tuesday we dined and a highly recommended sushi restaurant on the Upper East Side and then walked down to Bloomingdale's at 59th Street. The next day I trekked up to Washington Heights again as my mother took a trip to the Museum of Natural History and then studied at my favorite New York spot, Rohr's Coffee Shop. Wednesday afternoon we met at Union Square, browsed the eight miles of books at Strand, and then took the Staten Island Fairy from Battery Park to the forgotten borough. Being my first trip to Staten Island, it was a big adventure. We boarded a random train and ended up in Great Kills where we ate a fantastic dinner at a local, family run Italian spot. The next day was Thanksgiving, a bit chilly but very beautiful out. We walked from York Avenue all the way across Central Park to the world famous Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Being that I love to watch the parade on television every Thanksgiving, the real thing was spectacular. The balloons really were huge and everyone was so excited. I must admit that the best part was when Mom and I were actually in the parade. We were walking down the sidewalk and couldn't pass a set of bleachers, so we were told to walk on the street. We were in the Macy's Parade! I took a picture of my mom and Garfield flying high behind her.
Other highlights of her visit include Thanksgiving service at St. Bart's, healthy, trendy dinner in Greenwich Village, walking across the Brooklyn Bridge all the way to the Brooklyn Museum of Art, a visit to my school and Dominican lunch in Washington Heights, a fantastic, thought provoking Broadway play (Doubt), a super silly, super fun Broadway musical (Hairspray), all culminating with the Lincoln Center Christmas Tree Lighting. We also made time for some Scrabble, a movie, and a lot of hugs and laughs. What a gift! I almost forgot one of the best parts - salsa dancing to a live band at SOBs (Sounds of Brazil) downtown - I can tell you I'll be doing that again soon.