September 11th, 2014

New York is filled with heavy hearts today as we honor the victims of the September 11th attacks. Stormy rain clouds hovered over the city today and it seemed that even the heavens were mourning over Manhattan. My evening spent with family and service members at the Early Viewing of the 9/11 Museum still brings tears to my eyes…some images will never leave your memory.

Last night the ‘Tribute in Light’ columns shined boldly against the dark New York sky, while the 9/11 Memorial fountains received a transformation. Workers diligently labored through the night using blowtorches melting the metal of the victims’ names. The names are now hollow-allowing light to brightly illuminate them. The 9/11 Memorial and Museum is closed today for remembrance ceremonies for family members. It will reopen tonight at 6:00 P.M. until midnight.

May We Never Forget and May God Bless Us All…

Established in 1838, C.O. Bigelow Pharmacy is the oldest apothecary in America. Nestled in the heart of Greenwich Village, this historical site features original wooden countertops, ornate chandeliers and pharmacy counter serving many famous customers throughout the years including Mark Twain, Thomas Edison, Eleanor Roosevelt, John Belushi, Elvis Costello, Susan Sarandon, Liv Tyler and Calvin Klein!

Unlike most pharmacy chains, C.O. Bigelow offers numerous unique and high-quality products, plus many hard-to-find European brands. C.O. Bigelow also boasts a large cosmetic and fragrance section with essential oils. Where else can you buy Tocca candles, Nars cosmetics, Bumble and Bumble hair products, Mason Pearson hairbrushes, Marvis toothpaste from Italy and Laundress cleaning products–all while getting your prescription filled? The answer is: nowhere else…I simply love this sweet little drugstore! After browsing for far too long, I stocked up on my favorite C.O. Bigelow Rose Salve!

P.S.- I was only able to capture a few photos before I was politely told “no interior photos please” but you simply must see the inside! Visit C.O. Bigelow Instagram for interior photos!

Got the need for speed? Lord knows I do! I love driving fast cars and I miss zippin’ around in my Z4! The next best thing? Visiting the MotorExpo at Brookfield Place to see all the latest and greatest from BMW, Lexus, Mercedes, Tesla, Ford, Lincoln, Cadillac, and Mini Cooper!

The MotorExpo will be showcasing all these bright and shiny rides until September 12th! Visit http://www.motorexpo.com/new-york-motorexpo/ for further details!

It’s David Letterman’s last season of the Late Show before retirement and the show has been on my NYC bucket list since we moved! Last week I was so excited when I received a call from the show! After answering some David Letterman trivia questions, I officially received my ticket for today’s show!

The Late Show with David Letterman is taped at the famous Ed Sullivan Theater on Broadway, which has been open since 1927. Before the show started I stopped by Hello Deli (Rupert Jee’s Deli) around the corner and actually met Rupert himself!

Waiting in the line for the show, I met two people from North Carolina! Whatta know! It was a classic southern conversation–chatting about football, NC universities, hometowns and “do you know so and so?” We also traded favorite NYC spots in the city! Soon after, we were seated (fourth row) and watched a short video of rules during of the show, which unfortunately included no photos of any kind! Bummer 🙁

The talented CBS Orchestra with Paul Shaffer performed before Dave came out and during the commercial breaks! Loved their rendition of ‘Brown Sugar” by the Rolling Stones! David Letterman came out in a relaxed and jovial mood! He thanked everyone for coming and then took audience questions! I was surprised how interactive he was answering the audience questions. He even took an audience hometown name to use in the Top 10 segment (Whitby, Ontario). After the Q&A session, Dave welcomed the first guest, actress Kristen Wiig who was promoting her new movie ‘The Skeleton Twins’. Kristen and Dave exchanged lots of witty banter and talked quite a lot about Asheville, NC!! My new NC friends and I were squealing with excitement over another NC coincidence!!

The Top 10 List today referenced Justin Bieber and his recent ATV arrest this past weekend!

Next guest of the show was US Senator of Massachusetts, Elizabeth Warren talking about her new book ‘A Fighting Chance’. She spoke about her childhood, her days as a teacher, the economic downturn of 2088 and a phone call she received from Harry Reid.

The show wrapped up with a live performance by the Canadian rock band, ‘The New Pornographers’ and a final farewell from Dave wishing us all a great evening!

Interested in attending the Late Show with David Letterman? Apply for tickets online at http://www.cbs.com/shows/late_show/tickets/.

NBC studios at Rockefeller Studios welcomed eager audience members to the first taping of the new Meredith Vieira show!!! Meredith has been in the television industry for over forty years–including The View, Who Wants to be a Millionaire, the Today Show and now her very own show!

Ekk! I scored a front row seat and the perfect spot to view everything (super strict no cameras/phones policy prevented me from getting any studio photos)!  The Meredith Show studio was uniquely decorated as Meredith’s home living room, as she wanted the studio to be a warm and welcoming environment. Family photos and artwork hung on the walls and there was even a worn chair from her home! Before the show officially started, Meredith came out and greeted everyone!! She is beautiful, professional and most importantly she exudes genuine kindness. The entire staff seemed to love Meredith and there were numerous remarks that she is one of the nicest people in the business.

Meredith opened the show talking with her “Obsessed With” segment which was Coconut Oil! Meredith says she keeps it in her shower and uses it daily for moisturizer. Everyone in the audience was gifted Spectrum Virgin Coconut Oil! The first guest of the show was singer, Marc McGrath talking about his Under the Sun summer tour, his many tattoos (he even showed us his Rolex tattoo on his stomach) and how much he loves his family. Later, Marc played a game with Meredith guessing different band names while being blind-folded. If he guessed correctly, he would win the audience Bluetooth Speakers from Brookstone! Lucky for us he got every question right!! Good job Marc!

During commercial breaks, the audience played games and had several dance offs to win prizes! There was also ‘Meredith Q&A’ time where she told us her impressively tall heels were Louboutin, from Saks Fifth Avenue because “I’m 5’3 and need the extra height” and how Steve Harvey is one of her biggest supporters!!

The last segment taped was featuring Camp Pals, an amazing summer camp for young adults & teens with Down Syndrome to build relationships and have fun! Co-founder, Jenni Newbury and her brother Jason came to talk about the camp, along with Meredith’s son who was previously a camp counselor at Camp Pals. Read more about Jenni, Jason and Camp Pals here.

The Meredith Vieria Show debuts on September 8th! Find out more at http://meredithvieirashow.com/

 

In New York City, anything can happen and every day is different! What appeared like a seemingly “normal” Monday night turned into an extravaganza! While walking Diesel around in our neighborhood, I noticed a flood of people dressed in all-white….

Diner en Blanc or “Dinner in White” pop-up picnic started in Paris, France in 1988 and spread to New York City in 2011! Thousands of attendees boast elaborate white ensembles for an elegant night of dinner and dancing! The most interesting part? The location of the event is not disclosed until moments before it begins…adding a layer of spontaneity, mystery and excitement to the grand affair! Each group is also responsible for their own table décor and New Yorkers know how to throw a party! Gorgeous white orchids, large silver candle holders, feathers, balloons and ivory lights filled the table centerpieces! The event was actually held along the Hudson River in Battery Park City and the night was perfection with a vibrant sunset as the backdrop! It was the most dreamy scene with rows of ivory tables, a champagne photo station, views of Freedom Tower, Statue of Liberty, Empire State and best of all- Louis Armstrong’s ‘What a Wonderful World’ playing in background. Manhattan magic! I stood among the other pedestrians in utter shock and amazement! Only in New York, my dear…

Diner en Blanc is extremely popular and tickets are sold a year in advance! There is already a waiting list for NYC Diner en Blanc 2015! Find out more at http://newyork.dinerenblanc.info/.

Happy Monday Folks!

The United States Tennis Championships started today in Queens, New York and Big South was one lucky duck! He had AMAZING seats and saw lots of Tennis champs including Venus Williams and Simona Halep! I’m “tennis green” with envy 🙂

Learn more about the 2014 US Open tournament at http://2014.usopen.org/index.html.

Hello Hello!

I’ve been in love with New York City since the moment we arrived. Head over heels. But just like any other love affair-distance makes the heart grow fonder. A mini-road trip with amazing friends is the perfect solution for a change of scenery!

We traveled along the Hudson Valley to the United States Military Academy at West Point. The views along the water were gorgeous and my beloved Manhattan seemed a world away. It’s no wonder the Hudson Valley has been named one of the top destinations to see in the world! Beautiful rolling mountain peaks parted by calm Hudson River waters.

Along the way, we visited the charming little town of Cold Spring for lunch, shopping, and sight-seeing. Next up, West Point!

USMA at West Point was established by Thomas Jefferson in 1802 and is the oldest military academy in the United States. West Point is a military landmark filled with rich American history, producing our nation’s finest military leaders. Attending West Point requires a competitive spirit and excellence in leadership, academics, athleticism, training and integrity. We were beyond grateful to our friend and USMA Alumnus, for the grand tour with his perspective on his experience at West Point.

Hey Good Lookin’!

Lately, I’ve been soaking up the remainder of my summertime days enjoying the sunshine and strolling around the city. After grabbing a bite to eat in West Village, we decided to explore and we stumbled upon Washington Square Park. Since then, we’ve been back several times and it’s a unique experience each time we visit! Washington Square Park is always bustling with a wide variety of entertainment! Chess games, jugglers, dancers, lively musicians, and my favorite- the super talented and creative street artists.

Cool off by the beautiful fountain, view the Empire State Building through the historical arch, and listen to the “piano man” play beautiful ballads. You’ll also find grassy lawns perfect for sunbathing, reading and relaxing! Pick a park bench for ‘people watching’ and see some truly quirky New Yorkers 🙂

Friday Funday!! Time for another GMA Summer Concert! Florida Georgia Line!!

Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard kept the energy high this morning in Central Park arriving on dirt bikes, helping with a large Ice Bucket Challenge, and singing ‘This Is How We Roll,’ ‘Dirt’ and the crowd favorite ‘Cruise’. In between segments, GMA host Lara Spencer interviewed singer Demi Lovato regarding her upcoming world tour.

Once the concert resumed, FGL made their big announcement! Florida Georgia Line will release their new album on October 14th!! FGL put on an amazing concert–interacting with the audience, throwing out guitar picks, taking selfies with fans, and just having a blast together performing!!

Only two more weeks of the GMA Summer Concert Series! Check out the remaining concerts here!