mission: dawn patrol

warning: the dawn patrol show is not for the faint at heart. why, you may ask? for starters, if you want to catch a bus from the park and ride, which comes highly recommended, one must wake up around 4:30 a.m. (and that was so we could make it to the park and ride at 5 a.m. which was 5 minutes down the road). mind you, it is still very dark outside at this time of day, and the sleep still very much overtaking your body.

so we hitch a ride to the balloon fiesta site, and we wait in the freezing cold until dawn was upon us. as we waited, we did eat some super spicy but ever delicioso breakfast burritos, complete with green chile sauce. this kept our mouths blazing hot and in return kept the rest of our bodies toasty. i was sad when i was completely stuffed with burrito that i could not finish the last two bites for some extra warmth. aunt sue did have some specially delivered kona coffee to last us a little while longer, however.

finally, the moment arrived, and the dozen of hot air balloons began to inflate. they even glowed (still dark) and all of the pilots were announced. one by one, they set off, and thus began the next event, the morning ascension. this is when all 600+ balloons are sent off into the atmosphere one by one and usually takes a couple of hours to complete. it was yet another amazing sight as we gazed into the sky watching the large balloons turn into tiny droplets as they drifted away from the field.

a great experience about this fiesta, as i mentioned in the prior post, is that you get to walk amongst the balloons and capture the entire process of an ascension. you get to see the pilots with their chase teams (the people who pick up a balloon after it has landed somewhere) unload the basket from a truck bed, spread the yards and yards of balloon fabric into its designated area, observe the flame being tested (bring your marshmallows), and finally the inflation. if you have never watched this process being done, let me tell you, it is extensive and takes a great team to pull it off without a hitch.

after the several hours of watching the balloons take off, the adrenaline wore off and sleep took us over once again. we had to nap so that we could take on one more balloon glow in the evening. that one is not worth blogging about because the wind conditions were too high to really have a proper glow. a good dozen or so were inflated, but the rest remained on the ground. i do want to say that the very last fireworks show of the festival was fantastic, even better than the night before, not to mention the amazing sunset we had. all in all, it was a good way to end the 2010 balloon fiesta.

patrick, aunt sue, and i did other things in albuquerque during our stay, and so in my next post i will give you the top 5 things you should do on your next visit to this quirky yet fascinating city.

this is beth signing off.

mission: accomplished

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mission: albuquerque balloon fiesta

every year in the city of albuquerque the largest congregation of hot air balloons during the first week of october. it is the highlight for new mexicans and fellow lovers of balloons from around the world! this year, big apple beth got the chance to go, and boy did i have a wonderful time.

i kind of have it easy making arrangements because my aunt susan lives and works out there, and with her as our guide, we didn't have difficulty maneuvering what events to attend, when to leave, and having the knowledge to take the bus rather than driving ourselves to the fiesta site. and might i add, the bus drivers and volunteers at this massive event were all kind and helpful!

after walking around the grounds for a bit, checking out the food options (lots and lots of fried delights and of course turkey legs) and take home souvenirs, our first fiesta activity was the friday night glow. the glow is when the balloonists inflate their balloon and firing them up so that it actually glows. this is all done while the balloons are tethered to the ground, and the guests can freely walk around the grounds taking pictures and walking beneath them. it is quite incredible, and i felt so small as i walked beneath the massive shapes. the glow that i went to consisted of all the special shaped balloons such as: spongebob, a cow named airabelle, a haunted house, two large boxing kangaroos, and family of bees! each new balloon that was inflated we exclaimed with glee, "is that a lady bug?" or "wow, it's darth vader's helmet!!!" it was so awesome, and there is no other word for it really. simply awesome.

as soon as it became dark, and the night air cooled off the desert, we settled into our folding camping chairs and watched a fireworks display. for those of you who don't know me, i LOVE fireworks! it was a fantastic show, but i was ready to head to bed, knowing that i had to wake up the following morning for the dawn patrol.

keep reading tomorrow as i explain how amazing the dawn patrol was! until then, this is beth signing off.

mission: accomplished.

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mission: almost like beginning again

tonight i watched julia and julia again, the movie that inspired me to write my food and travel blog about a year ago. i was hoping that within a year i would be able to write everything i did everyday so that i could gather my own following of people who were interested in my life in new york city and the travels in which i would partake. alas, my following is few, my blogs are sporadic, and writer's block has set in.

i wish i could write about some of the amazing things i have done in the past several months, like the over the rhine concert i went to at city winery or buying apple cider doughnuts at stew leonard's (which is the most awesome grocery store ever). but instead of back tracking and hoping for more consistency, i am going to begin anew.

so from this day forth, i will give you new adventures with full steam (until, as i predict, it will run out in a few months from now...again, but i will try not to let that happen).

this week is going to bring me lots of wonderfully exciting travel and possibilities. the first thing is happening tonight! my friends from college, josh and mandy harpold, are coming to visit us. it will be a short one, lasting roughly 12 hours for them, but it will be wonderful to see their smiling faces. funny how time flies so quickly the older we get. i haven't seen them in three years, the last time being at their beautiful kentucky wedding, but i suspect we will pick up right where we left off. that's what good friends do, and i should be so lucky to have some in my life.

the next thing going on this week is a trip to albuquerque, new mexico, to visit my aunt sue for the balloon fiesta! this fiesta happens every year, and i hear it is a most amazing sight to see. my aunt has us fully booked from dawn till dark, seeing the hot air balloons take off in the morning, glow in the twilight, and watching the fireworks light up the sky at night. not only that, we will hike, eat LOTS of mexican and drink some specially ordered kona coffee. i cannot wait.

to those who have been following my blog, thanks for hanging in there with me. i shall make my return a lasting one.

this is beth signing off.

mission: thank goodness for grace.

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mission: goodbye summer

fall is in the air, and i cannot wait to begin doing all of the fun fall things that i enjoy oh so much! but, before i can divulge any information on my recent goings on, let me tell you about the rest of my summer.

before moving, i got to visit some wonderful friends in the south. my first stop was to visit the wyllyses and the straits, who are patrick's family, in wilmore, kentucky. for those of you who have never heard of wilmore, that is okay, let me enlighten you. wilmore is a little college, ahem now university, town located about 30 minutes away from lexington. it is the place where i myself received my undergrad education and had the best four years of my life. it is also the place where i fell in love with the man i married, and so it will always have a special place in my heart.

the reason for visiting was to attend a baby dedication for little zoe grace wyllys, daughter to our best friends carrie and daniel. this beautiful service was held outside, at their friends' home, as the sun was setting and cows romping around in the meadow behind the yard. it was emotional and perfect, as dean wyllys, dan's father and methodist pastor, prayed over little sleeping zoe and offered her life to God. with many friends and family members gathered round weeping, i knew in my heart that zoe's life will be filled with love and support from so many caring people.

so, with that as our main purpose for the ky visit, we also got to enjoy spending time with patrick's aunt, uncle, and cousins (the straits) as well as some added time for the wyllyses, sans friends. it was relaxing and completely enjoyable to be around people about whom we care so deeply.

**for those of you who are going to attend the world equestrian games in lexington, check out these fave haunts of ours: pazzo's pizza pub, joe balogna's pizza, triangle park, graeter's ice cream, and ramsey's diner (best fried chicken ever!!!!!!!!!!!)**

after ky, i was off to charleston, south carolina for the remainder of my week to visit my friends laura and adam. these two new yorkers recently moved there so that adam could attend medical school at the university of south carolina. while i was there, laura was intent to introduce me to all things charleston, as this was my first visit there, and i was happy to oblige (as i am typing this, scarlet o'hara's voice is ringing through my ears).

my first full day there we went on a carriage tour around the city. now, in charleston, they like to do things a little differently. since there are so many carriage tours occurring at the same time, we cannot all go to the same places and see the same things. so, the tour guide must stop and find out where the tour is going. he is then given a number either 1,2, or 3 and that determines what section of charleston the tour is going to see. and! you never know what your are gonna get. our tour was 2, so we meandered down the center of charleston. it was fantastic and educational! the houses there are so beautiful and the history is so rich. i highly recommend this for first time visitors.

the next day we went to the beach on kiawa island, where adam's parents are in residence. so mostly that day was all about relaxing and getting burned. i also had an enormous amount of sand stuck in my bathing suit due to the fact that laura and i decided to lay down in the water while working on our tans (i mean tan for laura, burn for me). i can hear my mother's voice now..."some things never change bethany. you always had a load of sand in your bathing suit..." some things never do change :)

our agenda then proceeded to boone hall the following morning. this is an old plantation and is still working to this day. it was an interesting place, and we learned a lot about the gullah culture (derived from the african peoples who came over to america as slaves), and life as a slave. many slaves' quarters are still erect and have been turned into an exhibit all about african american history, from slavery to present day.

my last night there, laura, adam, and i decided to go out, and i wanted fried chicken! so we chose to go to virginia's on king. it...was...AMAZING! i highly recommend this place for some true low contry cuisine. try the fried chicken of course but the shrimp and grits is also fantastic! the price is right and the food will have you comin back fo mo.

the next i had to leave, but i left with some great memories. laura and i did many other things (adam was mostly in class and every night he shared all of the interesting things he was learning..he is going to be a great doctor. of that, i am sure), but i fear if i write anymore this post will become boring.

this is beth signing off.

mission: accomplished.

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mission: moving day!

good morning all! it has been yet another month in between my postings, but have no fear, big apple beth is sure to get back on track shortly. you see, this month i have been packing and getting ready for this very day...moving day. though i have been in denial, and on vacation, this day has finally arrived, and i am up and at 'em! packing the last of our things and sending them to our new apartment, which is on the upper west side of manhattan. it is a great neighborhood we with lots to do and see, plenty of running trails to explore, and no more riding the D train to get to work!!!!

i must confess, though, that i am sad to be leaving brooklyn. i love our dyker heights nabe, especially from halloween to easter when everyone decks out their house for all the holidays. christmas is the best here, and i will be coming back to visit the lights whenever i can.

i will also miss our wonderful neighbors that we have lived near these past three years. whoever moves in here next is going to be blessed and feel like part of special family. thanks meredith, especially, for the great person you are. we have loved living next to you, and you will be missed greatly (although we will get together in the city after work, so that makes me happy).

most of all, i will miss my first home i made with patrick. we have had wonderful memories of living in this apartment, filled with love, tears, and joy. it was a great first home for us, and i am sad to say goodbye to it.

but onward and upward we go...making new memories in our new place filled with new adventures and new missions for big apple beth!

so i am off to finish packing.

this is beth signing off.

mission: it has been great!

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mission: where have i been?

well a lot of places actually! my poor blog has gone to the wayside ever since i have been on a resume (and cover letter) rampage. looking for a social work job in this economy has been challenging, but i am still on it, ever pursuing a career.

ok so here is the whole kit in caboodle for you- a summary if you will to catch up where i have been and what i have done since going to gramercy tavern for my anniversary.

june

great adventure- patrick and i rode the rides and got some thrills at this six flags destination in jersey. it is a fun, family adventure although it lacks the disney charm. lots of big coasters are an attraction to the young adult crowd for sure. if you don't like waiting in lines when it's hot, the park is open until halloween!

the intrepid sea, air and space museum- awesome! located on 46th and 12th ave (pier 86) this landmark museum is a great place to take the kiddos here in nyc. there are lots of interactive exhibits and it is super fun to tour the submarine (the growler) and the intrepid to see how the navy has served on the high seas!

luna park and the wonder wheel at coney island- well if you can't make it to the jersey shore this summer, head down to stillwell ave where the subway dumps you right at the beach! ride the new amusements at the re-opened luna park and take a swinging trip around deno's famous wonder wheel! it is definitely a good time, and to avoid the lines get there around 11 a.m. when the park opens. oh! and don't forget to have your nathan's hotdog!

july

this month began with a trip to harbor island in south carolina. for a good 5 days, patrick and i enjoyed a wonderful family vacation. it was peaceful, relaxing, and patrick got some good golf in with his uncle dan at sea pines, located in hilton head. there was lots of family time, eating, and playing on our private beach!

destin- a florida panhandle resort paradise! with the frenzy over tar balls and oil leaks, this usually over crowded vacation spot was so fun. the water was surprisingly clear (until bonnie the storm brought some seaweed in her wake) and the beaches were still pristine. if you decide to head there and aren't scared of clean and empty beaches, go to mcguire's restaurant, located on highway 98 (the main road that goes through destin). it is a funky and fun place, and you can get a bowl of 18 cent soup. great irish pub fare and crafted beer with some interesting decor that will definitely keep the conversation going (there is over $900,000 of $1 bills stapled to the ceiling, walls, fans, and animal heads)!

this weekend lil' mommy (my mom) is coming to visit. we are going to see american idiot the musical and possibly visit the doughnut plant and american museum of natural history! should be a good one!

until then, this is beth signing off.

missions accomplished.

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mission: gramercy tavern

there are many great restaurants in new york city to appeal to one's particular taste. top chefs from around the globe find a home here and make tourists and locals mouth's water. one can find a place that shows off french techniques like eric ripert's le bernadin or if it's cucian classica that you desire, mario batali's del posto offers fine italian cuisine. i have yet to visit these places, and i am sure i will blog about them when i finally do, but i have found my foodie niche in the new american style.

what is new american food, you may ask? well, allow me to explain! we all know and love comfort foods that we have grown up with: mac and cheese, meat loaf with a side of mashed potatoes, chicken and dumplings with peas. the flavors we all recognize and makes us feel at home. well new american, essentially takes the concept of these types of foods and reinvents them constantly. new american is also reliant upon the "farm to table" idea, which means that all fresh ingredients are locally farmed and then used to prepare the meal you see in front of you. that way, everything is ripened and ready to eat pretty much all in one day! finally, new american takes the classical techniques of french and italian cooking, combined with new techniques that are ever emerging to make your farm fresh comfort foods taste like something you never have before, and yet you have. it is a paradox for the culinary world, and i love it.

so, now that you have a brief idea of what new american food, let me explain why i share this with you, readers. i have written about some great places in the past such as blue hill and craft. these are new american restaurants, with the great chefs of dan barber and tom colicchio. but it all began at gramercy tavern. in fact! tom and danny meyers began the beloved tavern as a way to introduce new american food to new yorkers. it was their brain child, and it has succeeded immensely since it's inception. since then, colicchio has moved on to his "craft" enterprise and has done well for himself. the food he presents has his own flair to it, with a precision of flavors that only a discerning palate can produce. so bravo to him. but gramercy, i must say, has that comfort level that makes one feel at home, and meyers has maintained that beautifully at his restaurant. as i ate my food there, i looked over at my husband and said, "i feel so special here because the food is so wonderful, but there is something about it, too, that makes me feel that i belong here." that is what is important to me about a place that will keep me coming back for more!

ok, enough with my soliloquy on food. let me tell you about what i ate!

patrick and i opted for the three course menu this time around instead of the tasting menu. our waiter, steven was so wonderful (ask for him and tell them bigapplebeth sent you), and also added to the homey atmosphere of the tavern. he welcomed us with a complimentary glass of sparkling white wine, as we were celebrating our anniversary. it was lovely.

it did not take me long to peruse the menu, because i already knew what i wanted! i had been studying the menu online for days, and i was ready to make my decision. so, i ended up with a soft-shell crab as my first course. it was so buttery and full of flavor. it was complimented with fingering potatoes cooked and seasoned to perfection. i was in heaven already.

the main course was a filet of halibut (my favorite fish) doused in a green garlic broth that contained fresh snap peas and leeks. the fish was so tender that i practically melted in my mouth. by far, this is the best piece of halibut i have ever consumed. ever. the broth added to the flavor of the fish, and the fresh peas were sweet and crisp. there was nothing wrong about this dish, only that i wanted more!

for dessert, i had the mango cheesecake. gramercy's cheesecake is actually what lured me to them. a couple of years ago, i went to the food and wine festival's sweets event where i sampled some of the most tempting desserts this city has to offer. but one stood out it my mind: gramercy tavern's pumpkin cheesecake with a lime infused whipped cream topped by a candied cranberry. yes, i have never forgotten it. so i just had to have the mango cheesecake to see if it was comparable to the pumpkin one...and it was. their cheesecake is very creamy and not too sweet. the mango takes care of the sweetness and balances out the tartness of the velvety dessert. it was paired with a fruity mango mint sorbet. it was the perfect ending. patrick and i had received a "happy anniversary" chocolate message on each of our plates, and then we were given a strawberry tart with almond ice cream as another anniversary gift from the restaurant. that dessert was also amazing!

patrick's meal was very different from mine. he had for his three courses: spinach salad with an orange vinaigrette, pork tenderloin with fresh peas, and chocolate bread pudding with cacao nib ice cream. his food also tasted yummy.

so, please check out this restaurant if you are celebrating a special event or just because. they also offer a less expensive tavern menu rather than the main dining menu, which is what we had. also, if you want to experience the tasting menu there, steven the waiter said to come at lunch. it is a better value for your money, but you still get to eat the quality food you should expect.

this is beth signing off.

mission: foodie worthy.

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