Maine 2020

Our family vacationed in Maine this summer, since we were unable to travel to Spain due to the coronavirus pandemic.  We stayed in this Air B&B, "Apartment with a View".	The fabulous view is Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park.
Beautiful prints of buildings and lighthouses around Maine adorn this apartment.  Alexi and Mateo were psyched to sleep together on a futon for the very first time ever.	It was great to stay in an Air B&B apartment since we actually got to cook, which we LOVE to do.  And no microwave meant we had to slow down, prepare meals and eat together as a family.
Our family stayed at the Surry Arts Colony, consisting of cottages and a barn with a grand piano(!)	Our family all wearing masks are a sign of the times...we are grateful to be healthy and blessed, and able to take a vacation outside of New York City after a very bleak spring due to the pandemic.
Mateo's half birthday was our first full day in Maine...he is ready for a day of fun and adventure.	Mateo has the perfect flip sequins shirt for National Spiderman Day.
Mateo was very happy to wake up to Platonix from MoMATH as his half birthday presents.	Alexi built Mateo an E train out of Platonix as a gift; we have not been on a subway since March.
Mateo is a HUGE mini-golf fan, so we traveled to Pirate's Cove for thirty six holes of mini-golf.	There is a cool pirate theme throughout, with interesting facts about famous pirates at each hole.
Mateo lines up his shot with his blue ball (his current favorite color).	A hole in one on your half birthday is the BEST kind!
Sharon is totally in HER favorite color PINK...from her sunglasses down to her crocs (and she even has a PINK ball).	Sharon and Alexi both score a hole in one on the same hole!
Half birthday dinner took place at Reel Pizza Cinerama in Bar Harbor, Maine.	Dessert was ice cream from Mount Desert Island Ice Cream..the most delicious ice cream we have ever tasted in the USA.
An added bonus of our apartment is that it connects to a barn that has a ping pong table, and our kids are HUGE ping pong fans.	Alexi and Mateo woke up early so they could play ping pong in their pajamas.
Maine has 3,478 miles of coastline and 3,166 off-shore islands.	One Sunday morning we decided to go on a hike through the Carter Nature Preserve.
Alexi and Mateo liked the Loop Trail of the Carter Nature Preserve Hike best.	Mateo could not resist taking off his crocs and dipping his feet in the COLD water.
O captain, my captain....	Hiking is a brand new activity for these NYC boyz...nature is embraced after spending springtime almost completely indoors due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The first beach we visited in Maine was Newbury Neck Beach, not far from our Air B&B.	Despite a hand injury (which required an emergency room visit), Alexi still was able to play frisbee with Mateo.
Happy Anniversary!  Alexi and Mateo spent their own money and made this very special breakfast for Sharon and David on the morning of their anniversary.	We said "I Do" in 2002...
Sharon and David both LOVE hiking and being outdoors, so we headed to Acadia National Park on our anniversary and hiked the Gorge Trail.	Our hike began this easy, and quickly escalated in difficulty.
This picture perfectly represents the rocky and picturesque Gorge Trail.	We spotted a little mini-waterfall on the Gorge Trail.
Sharon celebrates successfully completing this complicated rock scramble!	Alexi, David and Mateo celebrate completing the Gorge Trail by raising their hiking sticks in the air.
Next up in Acadia was the famous Jordan Pond House.  In the gift shop Alexi and Mateo purchased these cute seal stuffies, and named them Maino and Sealo.	Jordan Pond House was open for indoor dining, so we tried the house favorite...POPOVERS!!!
Alexi liked popovers so much that we bought a mix to make them at home in New York City.	Mateo takes a break from eating his popover to play air piano on the table (trait common to musicians).
After lunch we headed to Sand Beach in Acadia...the beautiful Atlantic is pictured in the background.	The Atlantic Ocean in Maine is FRIGID in early August; still, this did not stop Mateo and Alexi from having fun swimming in the chilly Atlantic.
Acadia National Park is the only national park on the East Coast, and the first one ever visited by Alexi and Mateo.	Alexi wrote this super sweet "Happy Anniversary" message in the sand at Acadia.
We went on the Friendship V Cruise for a "Lighthouses and Puffins" tour of Frenchman Bay.	Cruise during COVID-19....masks on, maintaining six feet of social distancing and on top deck open to the air.
Sharon is super excited for this tour, since she LOVES animals and lighthouses.	It is super chilly on a boat moving at high speeds...Sharon is VERY glad she wore her hoodie.
Our first stop on the lighthouse tour is Egg Rock Lighthouse, unique in that the lighthouse itself is incorporated into the house of the keepers.	Our next stop was at the Petit Manan Lighthouse, which is now a residence for scientists and grad students protecting the colony of puffins introduced there last century.
Final stop on the lighthouse tour was Winter Harbor Lighthouse...if you have $1.6 million, this island and lighthouse can be yours since it is for sale.	Alexi enjoys a hot chocolate he purchased with his own money on the Friendship V.
Mateo had the opportunity to play the grand piano in the Surry Arts Barn.	This grand piano is one of the things that attracted us to this Air B&B...and David and Mateo got to attend a piano concert at the barn during our stay in Maine.
We drove over the Penobscot Narrows Bridge when we arrived in Maine, so we went back to visit the observatory in one of the towers.  This bridge connects Verona Island to Prospect.	Mateo, David and Alexi pose in front of the Penobscot Narrows Bridge Observatory, the only one of its kind in America.
We posed for a photo on this canon at Fort Knox, which was built though never saw real battles.	We took a super fast elevator to the top of this tower, and saw a pretty view of Fort Knox and the area surrounding the Penobscot Narrows Bridge.  It is the first bridge observation tower in the USA, and the tallest bridge observatory in the world.
A tradition when you visit Acadia is to see sunrise at Cadillac Mountain.  This view of a rainbow sky greeted us when we arrived around 4:30 am...	Sunrise at Cadillac Mountain is a truly incredible and awe-inspiring experience...
Our chilly family poses at Cadillac Mountain at sunrise.	Next stop: Thunder Hole.
After seeing the sunrise on Cadillac Mountain, we headed to Bar Island.  During low tide a land bridge connects the mainland to Bar Island, and you can cross over and hike.	Alexi and Mateo stand on the beginning of the path leading to Bar Island.
We were so happy it was low tide early in the morning, so we could cross over and explore Bar Island.	We returned a few hours later at high tide, and as you can see the path to Bar Island is now covered by the Atlantic.  Every summer people do not read the tide schedule and get stranded for a few hours on Bar Island until the tide goes down.  If you do get stuck, you can call a water taxi to rescue you, though it takes over an hour and costs $50.
Alexi and Mateo take a pause during our Bar Island Hike.	While exploring Alexi discovered this absolutely beautiful purple starfish.
This lavender starfish was found very close to the purple starfish - perhaps a relative.	This white and lavender starfish was revealed when David turned over a rock - the baby of the family.
Maine is known for its Windjammer Cruises, and since it is in the book of 1000 Places to See Before You Die, we had to check it out.	Mateo, Sharon and Alexi are excited to board the Margaret Todd, the largest schooner (at 151 feet) sailing in New England.
Alexi and Sharon got to help the crew raise these beautiful brown sails.	Mateo looks for marine life through David's binoculars.
Windy, gorgeous day on the Margaret Todd...do you see Alexi and David in the background??!!	Sharon enjoyed both boat tours in Maine (and did not get seasick like she normally does...hard to believe she is the daughter of a sailor).
We spent our final afternoon at Acadia having fun at Echo Lake Beach.	Alexi and Mateo spent hours in Echo Lake, since it was MUCH warmer than the Atlantic Ocean.
The only lighthouse in Acadia is the Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse.	Sharon had to do a very difficult and arduous rock scramble (with great advice and direction from a father also seeking the best photograph) to get this classic photo of the Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse.
After an entire day at Acadia National Park starting before sunrise, our famished family went into Bar Harbor to eat at the outdoor patio at Royal Indian Restaurant.	Delicious vegetarian food was devoured by our hungry family.
Open Mic Night at Surry Arts Barn...OUTDOORS!	History was made tonight by David...first recorder performance EVER at an Open Mic.  David performed "English Nightingale" by Jacob van Eyck on soprano recorder.
Fellow Manhattanites vacationing in Maine performed duets together of Beatles and Bob Dylan songs.	Our audience agrees...this impromptu Open Mic was one of our FAVORITE parts of our Maine vacation.
Sharon looks so pretty in pink, holding Maine wildflowers...	Mateo and Alexi are rockin' their pink as well...a preview of this year's Christmas photo.
Maine is blueberry country, and this sweet, organic variety was delicious.	Sign of the times....we repurposed this rack for our masks to wear when going outside.
Sunrise...	Sunset...
Hiking was a new experience for these fellas, though we plan on more family hikes in the future.	Our short hike to Bar Island was very enjoyable...Alexi and Mateo were *excellent* kitty tour guides.
Alexi is now a preteen...so hard to believe our baby is growing up.  He is a chess player, drama club member, actor, screenwriter, soccer goalie, baseball player, cyclist, baker, journalist, mathematician and traveler.  Alexi is passionate and talented in so many things; his creativity never ceases to amaze us.	Mateo is a kid and no longer a toddler...and boy is he growing.  He is a musician, talented piano player, singer, skilled soccer player, baker, artist, chess novice, baseball player and traveler.  Mateo is so talented and competitive and joyful; his inquisitiveness truly makes life a journey.

Best of 2019

Sharon's Best Novels

(1) The End of the Affair by Graham Greene

(2) Three Women by Lisa Taddeo

(3) Girl, Interrupted  by Susanna Kaysen

(4) Educated by Tara Westover

(5) Wicked by Gregory Maguire

Sharon's Best Nonfiction

#hiphoped: The Compilation on Hip-Hop Education: Volume 1 edited by Dr. Christopher M. Emdin - Alexi got Sharon this book as a birthday present and she is now leading a book club that includes this text at Math for America

David's Books

Three Women by Lisa Taddeo
Beyond the Shadow of Night by Ray Kingfisher

Deceptive Cadence by Katheryn Guare

Novel Read by Both Sharon and Alexi - Keeping Corner by Kashmira Sheth

Our Favorite At Home Movies

(1) Scenes from a Marriage
(2) Marriage Story

(3) Call Me By Your Name

(4) Intimacy

(5) Life Itself 

(6) Free Solo

(7) The Favourite
(8) The Forgiven

(9) American Pastoral

(10) Shoplifters (万引き家族)

(11) RBG

(12) Girl, Interrupted

Best NYC Subway Train Story - Sharon was reading "Before Night Falls" and the guy next to her engaged her in conversation since he was one of the set designers on that movie(!)

Best NYC Film Festival - Tribeca Film Festival 

Best New Year Activity 

Our family went to MoMATH, the National Museum of Mathematics, on New Year's Day and became members.  Our favorite exhibits at MoMATH are the Square-Wheeled Trike, Hoop Curves, Motionscape and Structure Studio

Best Movie in a Theater for Grownups

BlacKkKlansman by Spike Lee

Best Movie in a Theater for Kids

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory @ United Palace

Best Documentary Seen Together in a Theatre 

A Kid from Coney Island (Biopic about Stephon Marbury) @ Tribeca Film Festival

Best Documentary Seen Solo  

The Dominican Dream (Biopic about Felipe Lopez) @ Tribeca Film Festival

Best Family Movie Seen at Home - Miracle

Favorite People/Places/Publications to follow on Twitter

1. Chalkbeat NY - @ChalkbeatNY
2. Dalai Lama - @DalaiLama
3. DOE - @DOECorruption

Best Art Exhibits/Museums/Gallery Shows/Participatory Design

(1) Color Factory @ Spring Street in SoHo

(2) Disappearing Acts by Bruce Nauman @ MOMA PS1

(3) The Art of the Brick by Nathan Sawaya @ New York Hall of Science
(4) Gaea by Gaia Grossi, Moire 3 by Frank Michielli, and Wavehenge by Damon Hamm and Jeff Sundheim, members of the Art Students League of New York, all part of Model to Monument (M2M) in Riverside Park (UPTOWN!)
(5) Andy Warhol - From A to B and Back Again @ Whitney
(6) Parapivot by Alicja Kwade @ Rooftop Garden of Met Museum
(7) Tilted Head by Mark Manders @ Central Park
(8) Whitney Biennial @ Whitney (pretty boring and unimpressive compared to 2017 Biennial, though still some standouts)

Best Broadway - What the Constitution Means To Me

Best Shakespeare: Coriolanus @ Delacorte Theatre

Best Museum for Kids - MoMath

Best Museum for Adults - MOMA PS1

Best Outdoor Movie - Aladdin @ DRIVE-IN MOVIE Theater in Oneonta, New York

Coolest NYC Experience - Governor's Island

Best Yoga  - Mind Body Soul Yoga in the Heights with the fabulous teacher June

Best Cycling Events

NYC Century - David, Alexi and Mateo biked in the FINAL NYC CENTURY EVER.  David pulled Mateo in the red trailer and Alexi biked solo on his Green Specialized road bike.  Sharon volunteered at the Central Park Finish Line, granting cyclists their free T-shirts and commemorative medals.

Best Concert/Live Musical Events 

(1) Don Diablo at Barcelona Beach Festival

(2) Don Diablo @ Avant Gardner in Brooklyn (Sharon was in the FRONT ROW and he EMBRACED her HAND at the end of the 3+ hour show)

Best Family Concert 

Blue Man Group

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 334th Birthday

Best TV Series

1. Goliath (featuring the *PHENOMENAL* Billy Bob Thorton)
2. Man in the High Castle (final season)

Best Math Event - Sharon getting her Math for America Master Fellowship automatically renewed, becoming a Master Teacher II Fellow in New York City and New York State!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Best Sporting Event - Mateo's first time going with Alexi to see a NYCFC Soccer Game (in the pouring rain!) at Yankee Stadium

Best Kids Travel Destination - Economy Candy & Black Tap Milkshakes

Best Travel Destinations

(1) Athens, Greece

(2) San Felui de Guixols, Spain
(3) Williamsburg, Virginia

Best Halloween Event - Trick or Treating in Dumont

Best Vegan Restaurant - Candle 79 (RIP)

Best Pick-Your-Own Fruit: Apple Dave's Orchard

Best Neighborhood Festivals: Spring Egg Hunt and Harvest Festival

Best Holiday Event: Peter and the Wolf (Works & Process) @ Guggenheim Museum

Best View of NYC: High Line

Top 5 Reasons to Love New York City

(1) CHANGE - We began this decade a family of three and ended it a family of four.  David worked in Brooklyn and Sharon in the Bronx but now both work in Manhattan.  Alexi and Mateo used to walk to school in our neighborhood of Washington Heights and now both go to screened schools out of district.  Our apartment building was half empty and now there are amenities like a gym and new neighbors constantly moving in.  Sharon was the cultural butterfly who worked hard and played harder, and now David goes out on the town, taking Mateo to concerts while Sharon stays with Alexi at home.   

(2) MUSIC -  NYC is one of the musical capitals of the WORLD.  Mateo goes to school right next door to Julliard and Lincoln Center.  Piano music fills our home early every morning and every evening, and oboe or recorder music waffles through our rooms late at night.  Sharon got to hear her favorite DJ, Don Diablo, not just once though TWICE this year: in Barcelona and Brooklyn.  

(3) SCHOOLS - Sharon is in her sixth year teaching at New Heights Academy Charter School, serving the Latina/Latino students of Washington Heights and the Bronx.  She is implementing Reality Pedagogy and #HipHopEd in ALL her classes this year, in which street and classroom cultures blend, while the students and Sharon co-construct the classroom space.  Alexi is in his first year at the Institute for Collaborative Education, the best citywide progressive 6-12  public school in New York City.  Mateo is at Special Music School, the top public music school in New York City, studying piano with Miss Irina.

(4) PEOPLE -  The families we have met at both Special Music School and the Institute for Collaborative Education have all been so supportive and pushed us to be our best selves.

(5) MUSEUMS - We love taking advantage of all the cultural treasures that exist in NYC.  This year we visited the Museum of Mathematics (A LOT since we became members), Transit Museum, Children's Museum of Manhattan, New York Hall of Science, Metropolitan Museum of Art, MOMA PS1, and the Whitney.