Prague 2016

This summer we started our European travel adventures in Prague, part of the Czech Republic.

We stayed at the MAGNIFICENT Hotel Leon d'Oro, right in the heart of the Old Town.  Sharon and David loved having a separate master suite opening up onto a balcony.  We highly recommend.

Our first afternoon in Prague we took a Hop On/Hop Off Tour, and some historic highlights were Prague Castle and the Charles Bridge.  Great way to maximize a day while recovering from jet lag.














A modern highlight of the tour was the Dancing House, designed by Croatian-Czech architect Vlado Milunić in cooperation with Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry.  Every major, modern city in the world should have at least one building designed by the phenomenal Frank Gehry.















The next day we awoke early for a day of tourism.  We started at the beautiful astronomical clock, adorned with celestial bodies.  Every hour, the clock bells chime and sing a song while various saints appear in a window that opens at the top as they circle around.  Concurrently, a skeleton rings a bell shaking his head yes as the man next to him shakes his head no, trying to deny his inevitable fate.














We climbed to the top of the clock tower and got a gorgeous view of Prague Town Square.













Next we went on a family bike tour with our phenomenal tour guide and Prague native Adam.  It was a Sunday morning so the streets were deserted; perfect for biking!  Mateo rode in a child seat in the back of David's bike, and Alexi expertly handled his own bike through the streets of Prague.

The public art in Prague absolutely rivals that in New York City.  Our family favorites were the Kafka statues.  Pictured at left is the kinetic sculpture consisting of 42 independent layers of stainless steel that spin around, representing Kafka's tortured personality, created by David Cerny.  Pictured at right is Description of a Struggle by Jaroslav Rona, a Kafka statue named after one of his short stories.

We saw more great public art on our bike tour.  The left picture shows Alexi hanging on to a giant baby sculpture by David Cerny with a bar code replacing its facial features.  The right picture shows a trotting horse, a temporary art installation by the National Theater.

Upon the recommendation of Adam, we headed to Beas Vegetarian for a delicious self-catering Indian lunch.

The Indian vegetarian food at Beas was delicious, with an extensive selection of amazing food.














After lunch we came across the Hunger Wall, an incredibly moving memorial to the victims of communism.















After riding the funicular uphill, Alexi and Sharon climbed many, many stairs to get to the top of the Petrin Lookout Tower.  This is the mini Eiffel Tower in Prague that gives an incredible view of the city.

Alexi & Sharon got an amazing view of Prague&saw why it is called the "City of a Hundred Spires".

After Alexi and Mami's descent, it was off to the Mirror Maze; so fun for kids and adults alike!













We spent the late afternoon touring and walking through Prague Castle, which we saw from a distance all day.















The Prague Castle Guard stands focused at attention, while Alexi and Mateo just cannot stay still!















Beautiful views of both the exterior and the interior of St. Vitus Cathedral greet visitors upon arrival.

Sharon went on a tour inside the cathedral and found out the stories behind the saints buried there and the symbolism of the blood of Christ in the stars throughout the cathedral.















The stained glass windows in the cathedral are stunning and very modern; cathedrals take hundreds of years to complete, so it was fascinating to track the passage of time in the stained glass windows.

The Royal Gardens are open to the public, and contain both beautiful architecture and flora.

We ate dinner close to Prague Castle at Vegan's Prague, which has beautiful decor and delicious homemade iced teas.













We ate some fresh hummus and a delicious veggie burger on a (yes, you saw correctly) purple bun.

David had the fabulous idea of walking across the Charles Bridge at sunset - and it was a gorgeous view of Prague that greeted our eyes.

The most famous dessert in Prague is chimney cake!  Picture ice cream inside a sugared crepe with toppings of your choice.  We enjoyed these alfresco at a cafe close to our hotel.













The weather in Prague changes as often as the weather in Iceland!  There were periods of drizzle, when it got cool, though it was still warm enough to enjoy delicious chimney cake after a long day of touring.

Our last day in Prague was kid-focused: Kingdom of Railways, Chocolate Museum and Paddle Boating on the Charles River.  The Chocolate Museum was definitely a highlight for David and the kids...all you can eat chocolate for lunch!!!














In the afternoon we rented a paddle boat, surmising that one of the best ways to see and experience Prague is by water.

Alexi was incredibly excited to pedal with David and be in the driver's seat!  He did an excellent job.













Mateo and Sharon took in the view from the back seats, injecting songs and spirit into the ride.

Some of the vistas we took in from our paddle boat, including the Dancing House by Gehry.

In the evening we attended a string quartet concert featuring classical music at St. Martin in the Wall Church.













Wow!  The Havelsky Market originated in 1232 and is still operating - it was very close to our hotel.












On our last evening in Prague David picked up a pizza pie and we had dinner alfresco on our balcony!  This was a highlight of the trip for the whole family.

We had a WONDERFUL vacation in Prague (which included Alexi's first European banana split!) and highly recommend this beautiful city to families traveling to Europe.

Best of 2015

Sharon's Novels (she focused on classic novels this year and these were outstanding)

(1) A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess 

(2) The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark

(3) Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

(4) The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton
(5) Go Tell It On the Mountain by James Baldwin

David's Books

(1) The Martian by Andy Weir

(2) Halo by Tom Maddox

(3) The Diary of a U-boat Commander by Sir William Stephen Richard

(4) The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde

(5) Call of the Wild / White Fang by Jack London

(6) Dracula by Bram Stoker

Our Favorite Movie Rentals

(1) Whiplash
(2) Leviathan
(3) The Babadook
(4) Birdman
(5) A Clockwork Orange
(6) Das Boot (Director's Cut)
(7) The Imitation Game
(8) Interstellar
(9) The Pride of the Yankees
(10) Nas: Time is Illmatic
(11) Wild Style
(12) Searching for Sugar Man

Best NYC Film Festivals

(1) Tribeca Film Festival - Sharon saw a record THREE TFF films this year:

El 5 de talleres - Sharon and David saw this drama/romantic comedy about an Argentinian soccer player contemplating and fulfilling his retirement from the sport of futbol

A Ballerina's Tale - *New York Premiere* Documentary about the life and career of Misty Copeland {Sharon saw this before seeing Misty make history twice: by dancing the principal role in Swam Lake at Lincoln Center and being named the first African American Principal Dancer by American Ballet Theater}

Most Likely to Succeed - Sharon waited on line 1.5 hours in the freezing cold to get free tickets to see this phenomenal documentary that changed her view of American education and mobilized her to educate her students for the 21st Century/participate in the XQ SuperSchool Project

(2) New York Film Festival - Sharon and David together saw The Lobster; David describes it best by saying "You had me at dystopia."

(3) Kid CinemaFest - David took Alexi to see Bubble Bubble Meows and the Meteor Stomachache at La Alianza Dominicana Cultural Center

Best Movie in a Theater: 10th Anniversary Screening of Mad Hot Ballroom @ United Palace
     Sharon loved this movie the first time she saw it in the Coloseum Theater in the Heights, so she was thrilled to attend this screening and hear the panel talk after the movie, reuniting the kids featured in the movie and discussing how they ALL went to college and their current/future careers.

Best NYC Children's Museum: Staten Island Children's Museum

 Favorite People/Places/Publications to follow on Twitter

1. Untapped Cities - @untappedcities

2. The Motherlode - @NYTMotherlode

3. New York Magazine - @NYMag

4. High Line - @highlinenyc

5. Brandon Stanton - @humansofny

***Lisa Bonchek Adams - @adamslisa*** In Memoriam

Best Art Exhibits/Museums/Gallery Shows/Public Art (it was a very good year for art in NYC)

(1) COSMO by Andres Jaque and The Flat Side of the Knife by Samara Golden, both @ MOMA PS1
(2) Yoko Ono: One Woman Show 1960-1971 @ MOMA
(3) Sarah Sze @ Tanya Bonakdar Gallery
(4) Gazing Globes by Paula Hayes @ Madison Square Park
(5) "The Dinner Party" by Judy Chicago and Kehinde Wiley: A New Republic @ Brooklyn Museum
(6) Whitney Reopening @ the High Line: America Is Hard To See
(7) Storm King Art Center
(8) The Value of Food: Sustaining a Green Planet @ Cathedral of St. John the Divine
(9) Agnes Denes: The Living Pyramid @ Socrates Sculpture Park
(10) Drifting in Daylight @ Central Park by Creative Time
(11) "America Today" by Thomas Hart Benton @ Metropolitan Museum of Art
(12) Coney Art Walls - Smorgasboard @ Coney Island
(13) Escaping Time: Art from US Prisons @ Governor's Island
(14) Oh Sit! 14 Sculptors Consider the Chair @ Highbridge Park
(15) "Constructing Manhattan from the Razor's Edge" by Christina Lihan @ Flatiron Building
(16) "Flowers in Bloom, Fort Tryon Park Inspirations and Transformations" by Helen Ferrulli @Berkshire Bank


Best Broadway Musical: If/Then

     If/Then is a contemporary musical that follows two distinct storylines in the life of Elizabeth, an urban planner who moves back to New York to restart her life in this city of infinite possibilities. When her carefully designed plans collide with the whims of fate, Elizabeth's life splits into two parallel and distinct paths.


Best NYC Memberships

(1) High Line NYC - Sharon became a member this year after countless visits, and the High Line is one of her favorite places in all of New York City

(2) CitiBike - David received a membership as a birthday gift from Sharon, and he loves partial bike commutes to Brooklyn and taking Citibike on short trips to stores and museums

(3) NYC ID - We have LOVED getting family memberships to so many museums in all 5 boroughs

Best Impromptu Concert - Entire family having a turn playing outdoor Sing for Hope piano in Inwood Hill Park

Best Dance Event: Swan Lake featuring Misty Copeland, American Ballet Theatre
    First time ever an African American dancer in the US danced the principal role in Swam Lake, performed mere weeks before Misty made history by being named the first Principal African American dancer in American Ballet Theatre history  

Best Cycling Event - Tour de Bronx (Mateo in green bike seat!  Alexi rode his own bike attached to David's bike via the FollowMe!)

Best Concert/Live Musical Event: David playing oboe in "Bach in the Subway" for the first time ever at the 175th Street A Subway Station, commemorating Bach's birthday with live classical music

Best TV Series: Mad Men (currently watching Season 3 on Blu Ray)

Best Sporting Event: Washington Heights Salsa, Blues and Shamrock Run
     For the first time EVER, our whole entire family participated in this event.  Sharon and David ran the 5K together (with Sharon sporting her Irish green), and Alexi and Mateo both ran in the kids races.  Alexi placed 2nd in his age group, and this was Mateo's first time participating!

Coolest NYC Event - Clinton Park Stables Tour
     As a family we visited the stables where the horses that pull the carriages in Central Park live.  We got to feed carrots to the horses, visit all of the horses on two levels and pet and stroke the horses (such understanding in those eyes).  Mateo's favorites were Snowflake and Brownie.  We also got to see some of the horses get hitched up and head east to Central Park (stables are on the far west side).  

Best Family Record: Visiting all FIVE NYC Zoos this year
     In January we visited the Queens Zoo, we visited the Central Park Zoo in the middle of a snowstorm in February, in May we went to the Bronx Zoo, we visited the Prospect Park Zoo in June and during the summertime we made the trip out to Staten Island to visit the Staten Island Zoo.

Best Travel Destinations

(1) Tulum, Mexico

(2) Pompeii and Rome, Italy
(3) San Felui de Guixols, Spain

(4) Easton, Pennsylvania (we visited the oldest continuously operating famers' market in the USA there)

Best Vegetarian Restaurants: Candle Cafe East and Candle Cafe West

Best Vegan Dessert: Cinnamon Bun from the Cinnamon Snail (line was too long on what was purportedly their last day in Union Square; Alexi and Sharon were back in the neighborhood for the Seed Market one week later and Cinnamon Snail truck was parked outside, so we got vegan donuts and buns)

Best NonVegan Dessert - Chocolate Chip Cookie at Maman NYC

Best Dining Event: Social Soup Experiment on the High Line

Best Math Event: Pi Day of the Century at Baruch College, sponsored by MoMATH, on 3/14/15

Best Tour: City Hall Station, sponsored by The Transit Museum

Best Holiday Event in NYC: Central Park Tree Lighting on the Harlem Meer (Alexi and Mateo had hot chocolate and cookies, met Mr. and Mrs. Claus and we sang Christmas carols)

Best View of NYC: Meatpacking District, Empire State Building and Hudson River as seen from the roof of the new Whitney Museum

Top 5 Reasons to Love New York City

(1) Castle Bridge/El Puento del Castillo Escuela - We love Alexi's progressive, inclusive and dual language school.  David is one of two parent representatives on the School Leadership Team.  Alexi gets to attend field lessons all over the city, including Central Park, the United Palace Theatre (to see the Hip Hop Nutcracker!) and Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx.  Sharon loves volunteering with Castle Bridge at their Pajama Nights and also at the Harvest Festival.  Mateo is psyched to be a future student.  As a family we attended the CB sponsored trip to Kelder Farm to go pumpkin picking, milk a cow, find our way through a corn maze, jump on a giant pillow and feed the animals.  

(2) Queens - We spent more time in this borough than we ever had before, including on New Year's Day.  Queens has fabulous cultural institutions and lots of museums/activities for children.  We took Alexi and Mateo to the NY Hall of Science multiple times (Connected Worlds: FABULOUS), Queens Zoo and Jackson Diner.  For the first time ever Sharon and David got to visit Socrates Sculpture Park and the Queens Museum of Art where they saw fabulous art.  We all got to splash around in the Unisphere and have an absolute blast (endless summer....).  Queens is so compelling because its diversity is unmatched.  Though proud Manhattanites, we see why Lonely Planet named Queens the #1 Destination to Visit in NYC.

(3) Witnessing History - Sharon attended American Ballet Theater's Performance of Swam Lake at the Metropolitan Opera House, with Misty Copeland in the lead role.  This was historic since Misty is the first African American female to dance the lead in New York City of this standard of classic ballet repertoire.  Days later, Misty again made history by becoming the first African American ballerina to be named a Principal dancer at American Ballet Theater.  

(4) Cycling - We biked as a family in the Tour de Bronx, out to the Palisades, in Summer Streets, along the Greenway and on Governor's Island.  David and Alexi biked 55 miles together (with Alexi riding his bike attached to David's via the FollowMe) in the NYC Century.  Sharon biked with Mateo in her green bike seat and Alexi rode his own bike to Discovery Playground in the summer.  This year Sharon has bike commuted once a week through every season to her job.  David received a Citibike membership as a birthday present from Sharon and loves this bike share program and his partial bike commute from lower Manhattan to Brooklyn over the Williamsburg Bridge.

(5) Pizza - New York City has the absolute best pizza on the planet.  David is a 6 day a week vegan so that he can enjoy that New York special slice that he grew up with on Saturdays.  Our favorite NYC Pizza Place is George's Pizza in Washington Heights.  We got to also visit two powerhouses in the world of NYC Pizza this year.  We celebrated Mateo's birthday at Luzzo's Pizzeria in the Village and loved their coal oven pizza Napoletana.  In the autumn on our way to the San Genaro Festival we had pizza at Motorino pizza.  Besides the fact that pizza brunch as to be one of the coolest inventions ever, we loved the 1980's music that was blasting there.  Sharon sang the lyrics to the kids while Alexi tried to figure out some meaning of the nonsensical '80's lyrics and Mateo kept the beat. 

Delaware Water Gap, Fall Foliage Camping 2015

Our fall foliage camping trip this year took us to the Delaware Water Gap in Pennsylvania.













We stayed in a heated cabin (due to Mateo's young age), and had some very interesting neighbors.













While in Pennsylvania we went to the Easton Farmers' Market, the oldest continuously operating farmers' market in the United States.

Delectable fare was found in Easton, including apple fritters and maple syrup ice cream.

After breakfast at the Easton Farmers' Market we went mountain biking on the McDade Trail.




Mateo loves biking in the trailer with Papi!!!

Hands thrown up in victory after completing cycling the entire trail!!!!

Our campsite had miniature golf, which we really enjoyed playing as a family.












One of Mateo's favorite thing to do is play mini-golf; he stayed on the course most of an afternoon!

The following day we spent the afternoon at Bushkill Falls, the "Niagara Falls of Pennsylvania".
















Mateo still absolutely adores animals, and Alexi continues to love collecting sticks.













Alexi's eye caught the nearby paddleboat ride, so Sharon and Alexi went on the paddleboats together and got to enjoy the exquisite fall foliage.












Alexi went on paddleboats in Spain when he was 3, though now he is big enough to actually "paddle"!!!













Mateo loves exploring and riding his balance bike (cycling...hmmm...who taught him to love that??!!)















On Columbus Day we went to the Crayola Experience back in Easton.  This is a fabulous children's museum, and we highly recommend it if you ever find yourself in Pennsylvania.












Mateo got to stand next to the biggest crayon in the world that is his favorite color, and Alexi got to design his own crayon in his favorite color, yellow.












Mateo enjoyed inventing his own playdough while Alexi animated himself in a movie.















We ended the day with wax melting to create our very own blue dinosaur and yellow ring!  Crayola Experience ROCKS!!!