Summer Vacation 2010- My first Staycation

...we visited our friends office overlooking Times Square..

..witnessed a Yankees game -Alex may have maxed out his memory card on his camera...

...sampled the melon gelato at Chelsea Market...

...had Asian fusion food at Spice Market and Tao...

...snuck in a Broadway show- Next to Normal- and even met an actor...

....and even had time to visit Colombia- actually just Little Colombia in Jackson Heights, Queens! 

Paul the Octopus picks Spain over Netherlands to win World Cup

A Family Affair

Ahop's family has come and gone. We had a grand time and it was a good chance for me to get to know his family better. His mom, dad, and sister stayed in our 500 square foot apartment with us for a little over a week so it was cozy but fun. Ahop spent the majority of the visit working but I was able to do a lot of the touristy things with the family.

Walking the Brooklyn Bridge

The Brooklyn Bridge is the oldest suspension bridge in the world and was the first structure built connecting the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn. Taking approximately 13 years to build the bridge was completed in May of 1883. A must for visitors and popular for residents a like is walking from Brooklyn to Manhattan to take in the city skyline.   

We decided to walk the bridge last week- maybe we picked a day that was too hot or maybe my Colombian counterparts are more acclimated to hot weather?

We started in Brooklyn (we took the train to the Borough Hall Station) and ended in Manhattan (the bridge ends at Brooklyn Bridge Station). First we explored Brooklyn Heights and then strolled the Promenade. The Promenade provided great views of the city and bridge too!

conquering central park in one day

Central Park is full of hidden gems and stretches from 59th St to 110th St in  Harlem. Exploring the park can be a daunting task- especially on foot. This week we rented bikes for 3 hours in the afternoon giving us ample time to explore a few things within the park. Jen and I did the entire loop from 59th St up the East side to Harlem and back down the West side. Whehhewww we were tired! It took us a bit over an hour- including the time we took to stop and look at a few things a long the way. 

Rosa Mexicano

I've been hearing about Rosa Mexicano for the past 6 months- or should I say Rosas' Guacomole. Little did I know their flagship location was 4 blocks from our apartment. Sitting on the corner of 58th Street and 1st Avenue Rosa Mexicano is a perfect combination of Dos Caminos meets family restaurant.

The Guacamole en Molcajete was better than expected. How could you not love guacamole that is mixed table side with all fresh ingredients?

Make your own Guacamole en Molcajete!

Makes 4 servings

Chile Paste Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon finely chopped white onion
• 1 firmly packed tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
• 2 teaspoons finely chopped jalapeño, or more to taste
• 1 teaspoon salt, or as needed

Additional Ingredients

• 3 medium ripe but firm Hass avocados (about 8 ounces each)
• 3 tablespoons diced tomato
• 2 firmly packed tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped white onion
• Salt if necessary
• Tortilla chips and/or fresh corn tortillas

Make the chile paste: Grind the onion, cilantro, jalapeño, and salt together in a molcajete until all the ingredients are very finely ground. Alternatively, use a fork to mash all the ingredients to a paste in a wide hardwood bowl.

Cut each avocado in half, working the knife blade around the pit. Twist the halves to separate them and flick out the pit with the tip of the knife. Fold a kitchen towel in quarters and hold it in the palm of your “non-knife” hand. Rest an avocado half cut side up in your palm and make 3 or 4 evenly spaced lengthwise cuts through the avocado flesh down to the skin, without cutting through it. Make 4 crosswise cuts in the same way. Scoop the diced avocado flesh into the molcajete. Repeat with the remaining avocado halves.

New Kicks

AHOP's parents and sister are visiting this week from Cali, Colombia. His mom brought us each a pair of "native shoes" as she calls them. Alvaro thinks they are "tribal shoes" and that they are very stylish and the in thing. He even wore them to the office yesterday- don't fear it was Saturday.