Best of 2017

Sharon's Novels (she read ONLY female authors to make this the Year of the Womyn)

(1) Silent Spring by Rachel Carson

(2) Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

(3) Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

(4) The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende

(5) Reading with Patrick: A Teacher, a Student, and a Life-Changing Friendship by Michelle Kuo

(6) The Bright Hour: A Memoir of Living and Dying by Nina Riggs
(7) Death of the Heart by Elizabeth Bowen

David's Books

(1) Marathon Man by William Golden

(2) Life of Pi by Yann Martel

(3) The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
(4) Nomad by Matthew Mather

Our Favorite Movie Rentals

(1) Gettysburg
(2) Get Out
(3) Moonlight
(4) Marshland
(5) Lion
(6) Boy
(7) Captain Fantastic
(8) 1984
(9) The Whistleblower
(10) The Founder
(11) Sicario
(12) For Hell or High Water
(13) Wind River
(14) Desierto
(15) Bowling for Columbine

Best NYC Bagels

(1) Bagel Store (original Bedazzled Rainbow Bagel with Birthday Cake Cream Cheese)

(2) Black Seed Bagels

(3) Terrace Bagels

(4) Sadelle's

(5) Bagels on the Square and Bagel Hole (tied)

Best NYC Film Festivals

(1) Tribeca Film Festival - Sharon saw "For Akheem" about poverty and urban education and "Awake: A Dream for Standing Rock" about the standoff between indigenous peoples and the government over fracking and water rights - both were EXCELLENT.  Josh Fox, the famous documentary filmmaker, was present at the movie, discussed it at the Q & A and Sharon got to talk to him outside the movie theater after on the street and tell him what a big fan she is of his movies.

(2) International Children's Film Festival - Alexi and Sharon saw the World Premiere of Roald Dahl's Revolting Rhymes

Best Movie in a Theater:

The Princess Bride @ AMC 42, commemorating its 30th anniversary

Best Outdoor Movie - 30th anniversary screening of Dirty Dancing in Bryant Park

 Favorite People/Places/Publications to follow on Twitter

1. New York Magazine - @NYMag

2. Meat Free Mama - @meatfreemama

3. Green Bronx Machine - @greenBXmachine

4. Jesse Lansner - @jesselansner

5. Brandon Stanton - @humansofny

Best Art Exhibits/Museums/Gallery Shows/Public Art 

(1) "Descension" by Anish Kapoor @ Brooklyn Bridge Park AND "The Theater of Disappearance" by Adrian Villar Rojas @ Met Museum AND "Sisyphus Stones" by Saadi along the Hudson River

(2) CHIHULY @ New York Botanical Gardens

(3) Eulogy by Shaun Leonardo on the High Line AND "12 Shouts to the 10 Forgotten Heavens" by Sybil Kempson at The Whitney

(4) Audobon Mural Project by Gitler & ____ and National Audobon Society

(5) Living Modern about Georgia O'Keefe @ Brooklyn Museum

(6) The Meat Grinder's Iron Clothes by Samara Golden and Open Casket by Dana Schutz featured in Whitney Biennial @ Whitney Museum

(7) This is Hunger by MAZON USA in huge tractor trailer truck in Central Park

(8) [GOLEMECHA]  by Garret Kane @CherylMcGinnis Gallery

(9) Portraits by Chuck Close @ 86th Street Platform for 2nd Avenue Subway

(10) Seated Ballerina by Jeff Koons @ Rockefeller Plaza

(11) Joy Brown Sculptures along Broadway (UWS to Washington Heights)

(12) Carnival (Macy's Flower Show) @ Macy's Herald Square

(13) Photography Exhibit by Tatiana Daubek @ Cafe Buunni

(14) Memorial by in Central Park (Public Art Fund)

(15) Sculptures and Murals @ Sugar Hill Children's Museum

(16) ARTech Pop Up Museum in Chelsea

(17) Sculptures @ Angelica Kitchen

(18) Mini-Golf as Public Art by FigmentNYC @ Governor's Island

(19) Hypermobility by Alexander Calder @ Whitney Museum

(20) G.O.A.T., again by Nari Ward @ Socrates Sculpture Park

(21) Women with Wings by Andrea Arroyo at Wicked Community Garden

(22) Rockaway! by Katharina Grosse at Fort Tilden (MOMA PS1)

(23) Artificial Lily by Boy Kong at Gitler&_____Gallery (in the Heights!!!)

(24) Rise Above @ Cheryl Mc Gallery in Flatiron Building

(25) Murals and Quilts at 9/11 Museum

(26) MTA Subway Elevator Poster Project Exhibition - Hudson View Gardens

(27) Women in the Heights - Disruption at the Rio II Gallery

(28) Open House by Liz Glynn in Central Park (Public Art Fund)

(29) Good Fences Make Good Neighbors by Ai Weiwei under the Washington Square Arch in

Washington Square Park

(30) La Mer Wave Walk @ Columbus Circle and all around NYC

Best Broadway - Hamilton

Sharon and David received ***FREE TICKETS*** as part of a Teach For America raffle, and got to see the show on a special educator night in which the audience was filled with teachers.

In a word, this show was PHENOMENAL.  One of the best Broadway shows EVER.

Best Play: Tiny Beautiful Things

    Sharon went to the Public Theater to see this sold out play, based on the novel by Cheryl Strayed.  Nia Vardalos (from My Big Fat Greek Wedding) adapted it for the stage and starred in the leading role.  I originally bought a ticket for the last seat in the very last row (it was all that was available).  Some audience members did not show, so the ushers offered me an aisle seat in the fourth row which I gladly took.  So much more enjoyable to be that close to the actors and really see their facial expressions and all the emotions expressed in this very human play.

Best Shakespeare: A Midsummer Night's Dream @ Delacorte Theatre

Sharon waited on line in Central Park for five hours the day of the play, though it was totally worth it to see this play which featured phenomenal, more seasoned actors which was a welcome change from the obsession with youth culture.

Best Pop Up Museum - Artech in Chelsea

Best Museum for Kids - Sugar Hill Children's Museum

Best Museum for Adults - 9/11 Museum and Memorial

Coolest NY Event - Maple Weekend

       Every year the last weekend in March NYS farms invite the public in to see the process of maple syrup production in full effect and purchase maple products.  We started off at Cronin Maple Farm, where we enjoyed an all you can eat pancake breakfast and purchased maple products like maple peanuts and a personal maple syrup for Mateo.  Then we went to White Oak Farms to see maple syrup production in action, and were treated to a very informative talk by the farmer there and an instructional video.  Alexi and Mateo loved this, so we are considering making this an annual tradition.

Best Yoga  - Family Yoga in Fort Tryon Park in the summertime

Best Cycling Events

(1) Five Borough Bike Tour - 40th Anniversary - This was Mateo's 1st time riding in this event, and Sharon's 1st time participating in this event with a child in the back seat on her bike.  Sharon got so many cheers of amazement and "go mama" as she biked with Mateo.  We biked in every borough and made it across the steep Verrazano-Narrows Bridge (only open to bikes on this one day of the year).  A highlight was each receiving medals at the finish line.

(2) NYC Century - David, Alexi and Mateo biked the 35 mile route together, with Mateo riding in the red trailer and Alexi biking solo for the first time ever in a major bike event(!)  Sharon volunteered at the Astoria Rest Stop, making hundreds of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for hungry cyclists.

Best Concert/Live Musical Event - Overture to The Bartered Bride and Pictures at an Exhibition, performed by the NY Philharmonic

Best Family Member in Concert

David playing oboe in "Bach in the Subway" with a small ensemble at 59th Street Subway Station to commemorate Bach's 332nd Birthday

Best TV Series - The Man in the High Castle

Best Math Event - John Conway visit to MoMATH (David beat John at his own game of Dots and Lines)

Best Sporting Event - American League Champion Series Game at Yankee Stadium

     Sharon and Alexi together attended the ALCS Yankees vs. Houston Astros Game at Yankee Stadium.  It was absolutely the most exciting live baseball game we have both ever been to - Yankees were down 4 - 0 and made an amazing comeback, led by an Aaron Judge homerun.  Sharon and Alexi both added another item to our bucket list by attending this game.

Best Family Event - Choco Story @ Jaques Torres Chocolate

 
Best Travel Destinations

(1) Stockholm, Sweden

(2) The Dominican Republic
(3) San Felui de Guixols, Spain
(5) London, England
(5) Vero Beach, Florida
(6) Chincoteague Island, Virginia
(7) Vermont for Fall Foliage Camping (home of Mom and Pops, best maple syrup in the universe)

Best Parade - Sharon marched with Manhattan College in the St. Patrick's Day Parade

Best Summer Event - Kids playing Figment mini-golf and at play:ground NYC on Governor's Island

Best Mini-Golf - Shipwrecked in Brooklyn

Best Halloween Events - Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze at the Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson, and playing keys in Cryptkicker Six Band at Haunted Heights

Best Last Ever Event - Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus @ Barclay's in Brooklyn

Best Vegetarian Restaurant - Angelica Kitchen (RIP)

Best Ice Cream Dessert - Crazy Milkshakes @ Black Tap

Best Afternoon High Tea - Russian Tea Room

Best Pick-Your-Own Fruit: Barton Apple Orchard

Best Neighborhood Festivals: Spring Egg Hunt and Harvest Festival

     Sharon and Alexi together ran the bake sale table at the Spring Egg Hunt, raising $1000 (tying last year's record) to fund next year's Egg Hunt.  Sharon again chaired the food and drink tables at the Harvest Festival, which included running the Pie Contest Table.  David got to serve as a pie contest judge this year(!)  We again had a record 14 pies entered in the contest this year, with the winners as follows:

1st Place - Pumpkin Streussel Pie
2nd Place - Pecan Bourbon Pie
3rd Place - Crack Pie

Best Holiday Event in NYC: Dyker Lights

Best View of NYC: Seeing all 5 boros up close and personal on the 5 Boro Bike Tour

Top 5 Reasons to Love New York City

(1) Vibrancy - There is ALWAYS something new to experience in this city.  On New Year's Day we took the inaugural ride on the Second Avenue Subway, planned 100 years ago.  In the spring we went on a walking tour of the "Audobon Mural Project" and attended a baseball block party.  In the summer we went on a thirteen train, all day train adventure (showing that the MTA may not be as terrible as it seemed this year).  And in the autumn, we went in costume to "Boo at the Zoo" with Manhattan College for Family Day.

(2) Cycling - Our whole family biked in the 40th Anniversary of the Five Boro Bike Tour.  It was Mateo's 1st time and Alexi's 2nd time.  Alexi biked attached to David's bike, and Sharon biked with Mateo in the kid's seat on the back of her bike.  She got many cheers of "You Go Mama!".  We loved the inspirational messages written in chalk along the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, and also the medals we received at the finish line.  Mateo, Alexi and David all rode in the NYC Century this year - it was Mateo's 1st time!  Mateo rode in the red trailer with David, and Alexi biked solo for the first time ever.  They completed the 35 mile route through Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens!

(3) Schools - Sharon is in her fourth year teaching at New Heights Academy Charter School, serving the students of Washington Heights.  Alexi and Mateo now both attend one of the only inclusive, progressive, dual language public schools in New York City, where David is on the Friends Committee.  Our family is passionate about education and work daily to fulfill the TFA mission that one day all children in this nation will have the opportunity to attain an excellent education.

(4) Volunteer Opportunities - We love volunteering in our community of Washington Heights and in NYC in general.  At the Spring Egg Hunt Sharon and Alexi ran the bake sale table, raising money to fund next year's hunt.  For the NYC Century, Sharon volunteered at the Astoria Rest Stop, making 100 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for hungry cyclists.  In the autumn David helped run Movie Nights at Alexi and Mateo's school as a fundraiser for the PTA.  As a family we volunteered at the Harvest Festival-David was a Pie Judge and Sharon ran the Pie Contest and food tables.  As a family we all volunteered on clean-up/planting days in Fort Tryon Park.

(5) Restaurants - Our family enjoyed so many wonderful dinners at the jewels of the NYC dining scene: Carmine's Downtown, Seasoned Vegan, Peacefood Cafe, Nix, and Carmine's Uptown.

Fall Foliage Camping in Vermont in 2017

This year's fall foliage camping trip took us to Lake Bomoseen in Vermont.	Mateo and Alexi love camping in a tent and spending time outdoors.
Alexi enjoyed riding his green bicycle through the campgrounds.  Alexi is an excellent cyclist.	Mateo enjoyed collecting leaves.  We had to go far up north to see some actual foliage on our fall foliage camping trip.
Whenever we go family camping we stay at KOA - Kampgrounds of America.  They have wonderful activities for children.  We found out about KOA from our Washington Heights listserve, the year that Mateo was born.	And this chair is just right!  Mateo' shirt says exactly how he feels about his mami.
Our first morning at our campsite we took a walk around to see the sights, including this pond.	Alexi loves helping David set up camp.  Here he is rolling over the fire pit.
The best feature of Lake Bomoseen KOA is their *indoor* mini golf course....located on the second level.	The mini golf course was colorful and artistic, and we had the entire course to ourselves.
Alexi carefully sets up his shot so as not to get stuck in the paddle wheel.	David and Mateo both scored a hole in one on the hole with the traffic light.
Vermont seemed like the perfect place to finally buy the kids a set of Lincoln Logs.  Sharon had these as a little girl, and Mateo used his imagination while playing with them.	Mateo created a "camping cabin" with the Lincoln Logs.  This was one of our rare camping trips when it did not rain - normally that cabin would be needed for shelter.
Mateo loves being picked up and held by mami.	Mateo's favorite activity in the world is playing with Alexi.
Sharon spent a lot of time as a little girl with her mom and her mom's friend Kathy, who is a wonderful human being who has kept in touch via cards and letters over the years.	Kathy married Wayne and they moved up to Brandon, Vermont many years ago to renovate and live in this beautiful 18th century home.  Every year in their holiday newsletter they invite family and friends up for a visit, and this year we took them up on their offer.
Kathy and Wayne took us into downtown Brandon and treated us to a pizza dinner.	Pizza is Mateo, Alexi and David's FAVORITE FOOD!
We made it back to the campsite in time for s'mores.	Mateo enjoys eating his s'more by the campfire.
This KOA had a really beautiful playground for children.	Alexi gives it a go on the monkey bars.
Alexi pretended to be the captain of the ship.	Watch out - there appears to have been a stowaway!
One of the absolute best places to visit in Vermont is Mom & Pop's...they have the most delicious Maple Syrup we have ever tasted.	Sharon and David first experienced Mom & Pop's at a roadside stand during a Vermont bike race David's brother Daniel rode in.  This was our first time at their store.
The inside of Mom & Pop's is a feast for the eyes...so many fabulous maple products to choose from within these walls.	Alexi and Mateo hold up their fingers to show their ages.
It was unseasonably warm the weekend we visited Vermont, at the end of September.  We made a day trip to Crystal Beach and spent countless hours there since the weather was so beautiful.	We usually go swimming in the Mediterranean or the Atlantic Ocean.  Swimming in Lake Bomoseen was a unique treat.
Sharon carried Mateo far out into Lake Bomoseen to take him swimming.	Alexi posing on Crystal Beach.
Alexi and Mateo rode the swings to dry off after lots of time in Lake Bomoseen.	Mateo and Alexi had lots of fun playing in the sand of Crystal Beach with some new friends and their toys.
This emoji perfectly describes our camping trip.	Mateo is the king of emoji...on mami's phone(!)
We LOVE camping in Vermont!	This fall foliage trip camping in Vermont was a highlight of this year.

London 2017

We visited England as a side trip this year; a quick, easy flight on Ryan Air from Girona to London.  Sharon, David and Alexi were last in London in 2012 - this was Mateo's first time there!  We were so happy we got to hear Big Ben chime before repair work began later in August that will silence this iconic landmark.












Visiting Kidzania was one of the main purposes of our trip.  We first went to Kidzania in Portugal back in 2013, and we have wanted to check out the London version for several years.













At Kidzania Portugal Alexi got to try out the different jobs and activities, though Mateo was too young.  This year, Alexi and Mateo both got to learn the intricacies of different careers, work at several different jobs and earn a paycheck, and pay Kidzos (kid money) in real stores and for actual food.












Mateo and Alexi both enjoyed making chocolate, tacos and fruit smoothies, and got to enjoy and sample the fruits of their labors.











Alexi's favorite job at Kidzania Portugal was being a supermarket checkout clerk.  He reprised his role in London, with Mateo this time as the shopper and his #1 customer.

Of course their favorite careers were being futbol stars, playing soccer in a simulated stadium.  

After Kidzania it was off to 222 Vegan, one of the best vegan restaurants we have ever been to on either side of the Atlantic.

All the appetizers and entrees were scrumptious, and David said the seitan stroganoff was one of the best meals he has ever tasted in his life!

The following day we went on a tour of Buckingham Palace, visiting the State Rooms and the Gardens.  Buckingham Palace is one of the few working palaces in the world, and is only open during the end of the summer when Queen Elizabeth II is at her summer residence in Scotland.













Mateo was excited to take his first ever ride on one of London's iconic double decker buses.












We checked out vegetarian brunch at The Gate Seymour Place - huevos rancheros and vegan pancakes with assorted fruit.

Last stop in London was King's Cross Station, for all the Harry Potter fans in the family.  We got to see Platform 9 3/4, which leads to the train that takes you to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

We had a wonderful 30 hours in London and then flew back to Spain in time for the Fiesta Mayor.