the importance of family

This weekend saw a flurry of activity as I waved farewell to the great city of New York and headed to, well, the great city of Boston for family-filled weekend.  I had not seen my entire family together for about a year and a half (thank you, first great snowstorm of this past winter for making the roads inhospitable to vehicles), so the idea of having 12 people packed like sardines into a small apartment didn't even seem to phase me.  Add to that the fact that the family would be meeting Grrtrude for the first time and Adam's boo Rachel was meeting folks for the first time (the phrase baptism by fire comes to mind), it was bound to be the best time ever.  Not to mention that the apartment we were in, which belongs to my 96 year old grandmother, looks like it is a time capsule set to 1967.  Seriously, the amount of old/vintage/antique things in that apartment could make any hipster want to break down and cry.  

Family time was, well, entertaining!  We talked loudly, we ate, we drank, and we even had to go on a dog hunt, as Grrtrude did a vanishing act after dinner (she just hung out on the second floor with the retirees - grandma lives on the third floor).  The food was a mix of Chinese and Bertucci's, which I hesitate to call Italian food...most Italian's will know what I am talking about, for sure.  There was so much commotion around the table it was hard to stay focused on any one conversation for more than two minutes, but the meal passed without issue (after a slight grace kerfuffle, but that is neither here nor there).  

After lunch, the Nicolazzo's packed up into the car and shipped out to the cemetery to see grandpa's grave site.  It has been about three and a half years since his death and the first time I have seen his grave site in about two years, so it was important for us to all go as a family.  Grandma admittedly still gets a bit worked up by it all, but I think having us all there gave her some semblance of strength.  We hung out there for a while talking and doing some minor gardening (Aunt Shirley got a bit too zealous with the weeding and ripped up a flower plant, which was placed back nicely with the rest of them) and then all carted back to the apartment for some family photos (see below).  

 After family time, Rachel, Adam, and I headed off to see an old college buddy of Adam's who had just finished the bar.  We went to a great little restaurant called Kitchen on Common (more on this in a later post) and had a terrific meal!  They specialize in local and fresh food, so everything was delicious, especially eh beet and goat cheese salad I dove into with gusto for a starter!  The place was also a BYOB restaurant, so we bought a bottle of wine at the shop next door after an impromptu tasting of some blush wines (nothing to write home about, so we went for a red).  After a nice dinner and some good ice cream (thanks, Rachel!), we went to our hotel (Doubletree cookies = dynamite) for a night of sleep (in a king size bed, no less) and woke up for brunch with Mom, who was also meeting Rachel for the first time.  We found a dog-friendly joint in Central Square that served terrific food and once we moved our table into the shade (thereby setting a trend for future diners, a-thank you), we were very happy campers indeed.  With full bellies, we dropped Adam and Rachel off at a park and Mom, Grrtrude and I headed up to New Hampshire.  

I swear, I am not sure what it is, but every single time I see the "Welcome - Bienvenue to New Hampshire - Live Free or Die" I always feel so calm.  I am not one to feel the need to live in NH in the near future (sorry Mom - been there, done that), but it always just feels like home to me.  Not to mention, the sign is just priceless for two very specific reasons, namely:

(1) We have French on our sign despite the fact that our border with Canada is maybe 500 feet at best.  Hyperbole?  Yes.  But seriously - no one even lives up there!  It is such a silly thing to have French on our sign, aside from the fact that it provides for endless humor and speculation (who got that one pushed through the state legislature?), and

(2) Our state motto is just horrendous/hilarious.  I always feel like it should have some sort of emphatic word on the end, like motherf*cker, as*hole, or damn it!  I also feel like our sign should have a watermarked photo of Chuck Norris or Bruce Willis (maybe both?).  I am not sure what this all would do for state tourism, but I have a hard time thinking it would drive our numbers down.  I mean, come on - we are so kind to the French!  

But I digress...

The day included an afternoon ride (that kicked my butt - dang these hills are steep and long!), a great dinner, and a nice evening walk with Mom and Grrtrude, who met two canine buddies along the way.  It just feels so good to be back in the country!  The shade dappled roads, the windy streets, the pine and evergreen trees, and the way the breeze feels are just all so different from everywhere else I have been, as if it is all so...familiar.  Like I said, not interested in living here, but I am enjoying loving here.  

My computer is being fussy, as is my camera (needs new batteries), so you will have to wait for some photos and certain blogposts - for now, please bask in the glory that is a Nicolazzo Family Reunion in photographic form...

aunt anita making faces (aunt shirley in the background) and me drinking - she was probably in a heated yankees/red sox discussion with uncle jim (notice her t-shirt)

i was so hungry, i was apparently interested in what was on adam's plate, too

grandma - 96 and still stealin' years! and yes, the "i'm italian" sticker is so we didn't confuse her eating italian food with the rest of us who were eating chinese food...she is still quick with a joke, that one. 

grandma and her eldest child aunt mary, who conveniently lives right next door

adam was excited to open his secret santa present, even if it was a bit late.  a bow was also made out of some of his wrapping - nice!

family + partner photo time!  rachel and adam are standing in the back; in front of them is grandma; next to her on the right is mike (son of anita and tony) and to her left is aunt shirley; then it is aunt mary, aunt anita, me, robin, robin's daughter aubrey (who is dating mike), and grrtrude the dog.  missing are uncle tony (butch) and uncle jim.

i dream in designs

I got a fevah, and the only remedy is...more designing!  Or cowbell.  Well, both sound pretty good right about now, but I am not Bruce Dickinson, so I will stick with the design theme here.  And points to you if you got the SNL reference - if not, please go here for this bootleg rendition.


Anyway, I got to doing some drawing this morning, and here is what I came up with.  Let the apartment designing begin!

i love this idea, ripped from high fidelity, for a divider of sorts in my bedroom

pillow and plate ideas

kitchen storage?  yes please!

the whole design morning on a piece of paper - more to come...

Alexander McQueen, the beach, and all things beautiful

It feels weird to say, but when there is not much going on it is hard to keep up with the blogging...or I am just really enjoying being lazy these days.  Yeah, it's probably the second of the two, but I am blogging now, so here we go!  

Alexander McQueen's Savage Beauty

Thursday of last week I went to go see the Alexander McQueen exhibit Savage Beauty at the Met and it was absolutely amazing!  For those that are not into fashion, I would still highly recommend checking out the exhibit because, well, it is just gorgeous.  His ability to craft clothing so that he can deconstruct it and propel fashion forward was impeccable.  He was such a compelling figure and his clothes were nothing short of visionary.  The exhibit was incredibly crowded, but take it from this claustrophobic kid: it is well worth it!  The things that man did with forged metal, headpieces, and fabric, not to mention the shows he put together, were unbelievable!  I am still thinking about this show almost a week later it was that good.  I mean heck - even if it wasn't that great of a show, at least I was not out in that awful NYC heat!  There was a record-setting heatwave last week (102 recorded in Central Park - yipes), so just being indoors was a true blessing!  This piece was a favorite of mine...along with this one.  And this one is pretty hot too - I mean, really?!  Razor clams?!  Crazy amazing!

After seeing Savage Beauty I had dinner in Astoria with the bro and his lady friend.  Adam's Boo Rachel and I had a drink at a neighborhood bar while waiting for Adam, and I must say, my drink was really good!  It was a Dirty Pickle Martini - totally amazing, especially given the fact it was a vodka martini rather than a gin martini...bonus points for that bar!  For dinner, we had mussels, which was a nice treat.  Thankfully I had the night off from kitchen duty too, which meant I had the chance to sit and watch television (did you know they were doing an NY Ink series?!), not to mention eat some good food.  All in all, it was a successful day of events!

The Beach

The next morning, Adam and I woke up early, drove to Queens (I have now driven successfully in three boroughs of NYC - Queens, BK, and Manhattan) and met Rachel, who drove us to a beach on Long Island (pronounced Lon Gisland for those unfamiliar with the area).  It was a great time had by all, albeit incredibly hot!  I began sweating in the car and didn't stop til about three hours after we finally made it back home, but it was so worth it to put my legs in the water.  Finally - I am back on the right coast.  It just felt so good.  Plus, after the beach, we went to get some ice cream, which, if you know me, is ALWAYS a good time!  I do love me some dairy, and this trip was no different.  We went to a roadside stand and I got banana fro-yo (non-fat, of course) with rainbow sprinkles.  The thing I love about these places is that when you say small, it really means the biggest size they have...without fail.  It is wonderful.  Needless to say, I was stuffed after my small.

A Drizzly Afternoon

As if this whole two-weeks-in-NYC wasn't good enough, today saw cooling temperatures and a light drizzle in the afternoon when Grrtrude and I went out for our afternoon walk.  It is such a relief to see rain come at random times rather than just during a two or three week period (those who have experienced monsoons know what I am talking about).  Grrtrude is not a fan of the rain, but I wanted to mosey along with the wet weather - very refreshing, and very much what this city needed!

I have a few more days in this glorious getaway of a city before heading off for a weekend in Boston and a week in New Hampshire, where I intend to ride myself back into some semblance of fitness.  And then, after long last, it will be time to head to Ohio, my new home.  I know it will go by quickly, but I am really trying to enjoy it all while it is here.  

Until next time (which hopefully won't be a week or more in the making)...

being a stay-at-home brother

Now that I am finally in a location for more than a few days, I have felt an extreme need to sleep.  


Yup - you read that right: sleep.  I know some folks talk about the glamour of the city, and how could I ever just sleep days away, but let's be real for a minute.  My brother lives here, which means I come here every year at least once (this year twice) for extended stays.  This means I have done a lot of fun things in the past couple years with him.  Also, it is blazin' hot here.  I mean hot with a big ol' slice of thick-as-pea-soup humidity hot.  And when it is that hot, when I sweat just thinking of going outside, sleeping for a day in air conditioning sounds awesome.  


The first day when my brother came back from work he seemed slightly jealous (aside from the fact that he didn't understand why the dishes were not done and dinner was not ready; oops.), although that may just be my own imagination at work.  As I was making dinner, I promised myself (and my dog and brother) I would leave the apartment tomorrow.  And with that, my fate was sealed.  

thankfully she hasn't taken to eating grass...yet...

Today, after a riveting stage in the Tour de France, Grrtrude and I set out for greener pastures.  Seriously - for those who have never been to the city or Brooklyn, it is surprisingly green!  We took a walk past the Brooklyn Public Library to Prospect Park, which is this wide open space of green, trees, and grass.  It was great to see all these parents/au pairs with children, people laying around reading or playing frisbee (never the two shall merge), and cyclists and runners galore soaking up the sun (and likely getting a nice burn - yipes!).  I played the part of The Amazed Tourist as I walked around and snapped some pictures.  It was so nice to sit down on real grass rather than rocks (xeriscape landscaping is not my bag).  I think Grrtrude loves it too, or at least she seemed at home plopping her skinny butt down on some grass.  


On the walk back, I let myself be immersed with the beauty of the city.  There are so many details of the city that could be overlooked by folks just looking to get from point A to point B, but having the time to be lazy has allowed me the opportunity to stop and drink it all in (and then take pictures to post so you can do the same).  Below are some images from my walk...

l'arc de triomphe look-alike in brooklyn (so cosmopolitan)

the rumors are false - there are MANY trees that grow in brooklyn!

wide open spaces - BK style

there were a few of these bridges in the park and this one had some really neat details on the underside - very quaint

there were four of these opposite the arch welcoming folks to the park

top detail

there are a few things i cannot get enough of in cities, and triangle buildings are one of those things!

the opulence of this entrance is really breathtaking - i can't wait to go inside!

gilded details - notice the freemason imagery over the right shoulder

owls were perched above the doors - symbols of knowledge seem apropos, no?

you know, for someone who is not a huge fan of baroque art, i certainly dig these building details

and these window details

i have a confession to make: i have ALWAYS wanted a fire escape outside of my window...maybe some day...

seriously - awesome, right?!  plus, then i could be all stealthy and shit...or just enjoy having the fire escape...

this is literally a corner market - local businesses abound in the city, which makes me so happy to see

as some folks may remember, i have a thing for public art.  shake it up you say?  and how!

Tomorrow sees me actually heading into the city, hopefully after I am able to stretch my legs a bit with a quick bike ride around Prospect Park.  The reason I am heading in, you ask?  Well it will be none other than the McQueen exhibit, Savage Beauty, at the Met that draws me there.  I have heard there will be long lines, but to be honest, I care not.  It will just be amazing to see the pieces and become immersed in pontificating on the aesthetic, beauty, and fetishized properties, all of which I am learning were themes for Alexander's work.  After this, it will be dinner with the brother and his lady friend, then back home to move the car (but seriously, I am glad the sanitation workers do their job - this city is incredibly clean) and get some rest so I can do it all over again on Friday!


Just as a precursor, this weekend I am headed to the beach (G's first beach experience ever!) and to some BBQ place that my brother raves about.  I will be the judge of that, Adam.  We all know my feelings about Rudy's, so it will be some tough competition to say the least.  I am also hoping to take a ride with my brother.  We have never been able to do this, so I think it would be fun if he is up for it.  Two brothers, two bikes, and a little bit o' spandex - now that sounds like a great time, doesn't it?!  Needless to say, pictures of yours truly in his cycling getup will not be forthcoming.  That is between me and the umpteen bajillion people who see me passing by on my ride.  


And now back to the kitchen - I have pasta salad to finish making...

let's hear it for new york

And now it is time for some extras...


Just to follow up, Skaneateles Lake and the town of Skaneateles are both gorgeous!  Apparently the Clintons have a place on the lake, and by the look of some of these houses I can believe it!  The lake is supposedly one of the cleanest in the country and the town of Syracuse uses it unfiltered!  I don't think I have had unfiltered water since I was a little kid.


Anyway, here are a couple pictures from the evening.  I think I have learned my lesson too: always bring your camera with you!

new best friends

these places were going for about $1700...a week!

yeah, those are white columns...on a residential house...talk about opulent!

lynn law offices = the definition of quaint

i got really excited about the ducks - they don't make those out in the southwest, so it a nice reminder of being home

this pier and dock were just gorgeous and the best thing was they were right outside the restaurant!

homemade ice cream makes me very very happy (for those wondering it was mint chocolate chip)

these streets will make you feel brand new

Forgive me followers, for I have not blogged in a week solid...


Since we last met, I have been through 6 different states (Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and New York) and have entered the Eastern Time Zone.  The time away, although undocumented, was glorious.  Highlights include staying with my glorious friends Keri Jane and Rachel, meeting a new friend, Amanda, who was staying there as well, and heading down to Kentucky for the first time for the ACPA Summer Leadership Meeting in Louisville.  I also had some amazing time with Hilary, Scott, Colin, Kiley, and Shaggy in Cleveland and was taught how to play Just Dance 2, in which I set two High Scores the first two times I played!  I swear I had the best teacher in Kiley, although Hilary thinks I was hustling them.  I swear it was all in the teaching...


It is nuts to see Colin and Kiley, who are 9 and 7 respectively!  I remember when they were teeny tiny lil' things, and now they are old, are talkative, and are sprouting like weeds!  I was so glad to see them, but realized the day I spent with them was not nearly enough.  My favorite comment was when I told Colin, who is an avid college hockey fan, that I wanted to get some tickets for a Miami (OH) hockey game for him and his family and he said, "no offense, but Boston College is much better."  None taken, young man; it is a keen observation.  But still - Miami (OH) is no slouch.  I will teach him soon enough.  


And then it was off to New York...and how glorious it is to be back!  Upon entering the state (after a quick sub-hour trip through the tip of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which is the second Commonwealth I have been in thus far on vacation), I just felt so relaxed.  I made it to Brad and Allyson's place, which is adorable (and has some amazing vintage appliances), in a little over five hours, only to be taken to one of the most amazing dinners I have had in a long time!  Brad drove us to Skaneatlis, which is a town about 30 minutes away from Syracuse, and is home to the cleanest lake in the country.  No joke - you could see right through the water to the bottom!  We just walked around and looked at all the fish...it was amazing!  And the town is no slouch either...it was so quaint!  The architecture was all converted old buildings (think bank-in-a-clock-tower-and-law-office-in-a-storefront sorta thing) and it was charming as all get out!  Just like I did when I went to Kentucky, I decided not to take my camera, which turned out to be a bonehead move.  However I had Brad take a few pictures with his camera phone, so I will post those in a day or two when he uploads them.  


Dinner (chicken nachos followed by stuffed flounder) was amazing, and was followed by some homemade ice cream.  It has literally been 4-6 years since I have had good homemade ice cream, so regardless of how stuffed I was there was no turning this stuff down!  The shop was vintage East Coast Ice Cream Store in that the small size, which I ordered, was HUGE!  Pictures forthcoming.  


And speaking of pictures, here are some images from the last couple days...

it's a built in mixer-blender with all the original parts...amazing!

detailed view

allyson and brad's bernese mountain dog bentley meets grrtrude...believe it or not, he was scared of her at first!

grrtrude sleeping her way through oHIo - how can that be comfortable?!

the view from the road...

i haven't seen a nh plate in forever, and hilary pointed this one out when i got gas outside of cleveland!

citizens of new york, this is proof that i help pay for your roads - be thankful

watch z get rid of change on the ny thruway

details on the thermador oven - so charming!

top detail

the best part about this oven is it has a working rotisserie spit in it!  i need me one of these...

fields of opportunities

After a long drive across an incredibly boring state (Nebraska), I made it to Iowa, where, if you were unaware, there are fields of opportunities!  Seriously; there are!  If you don't believe me, check out their welcome sign!  You know, while we are on the subject, I think some states need to do some serious self-reflection.  I mean, in no universe should Nebraska ever be known as "the good life" and we have already talked about New Mexico.  I just think it shows a lack of critical self-reflection.  I am sure there are things Nebraska and New Mexico are good at, but their state mottos do not accurately depict those things...

But I digress...

After a free concert downtown, dinner, and a wonderful walk around a gorgeous campus with Alandis and Grrtrude, it was time to head to bed after a long day of driving.  Alandis then lovingly treated me to a morning of rest, taking Grrtrude out for her morning walk.  Honestly, I don't even know how I got such brilliant and wonderful friends!  We then went to the farmer's market with Alandis and Grrtrude only to be told that pets were not welcome.  Hmm - funny...there seemed to be a lot of kids running around...I kid. (But seriously - no dogs in an open air farmers market?!  Who made that dumb policy?!)  Here are some pictures of the farmers market and then the lovely coffee drinks we got on our walk back!  Oh, and we also found some awesome graffiti!

farmers market whaaaaat?!

this place was huuuuuuge!

fun folk music being played for the kiddies

i ended up stirring this, but doesn't it just look lovely??  the scone was good too!

hello warrior...

ce n'est pas une pipe or the bespectacled smoking man

a wider view showing off this piece's wonderfully secretive placement

We then went thrifting, which was highly successful and very fun!  I got Alandis this dashing Iowa cutting board, lest she ever forget where she lives....

you are the proud owner of a wonderful cutting board, Alandis!

I also found a nifty vintage suitcase and this nice piece - it is so lovely in its archaic nature.  Plus, it is a freakin' piece of music!  Who would ever make a song named In My Harem?!  Either way, it is a piece of ironic kitsch that I love and want to frame in my new flat...

best thing ever

I also found this and thought it was cute, but not $15 cute...

really wonderful, but so not worth the cost...i do love the statement though!

And look - it's Grrtrude and Tucker, her friend from Tucson!  

bark bark - brush away the clouds, rainy face grrtrude!

I head out for Dayton tomorrow, but had a glorious day with Alandis that was capped off with drinks with my friends Tracy and Georgianna and then Georgianna stayed after Tracy headed home and we had a wonderful dinner the three of us.  You know, it is pretty incredible - I have been sad to leave the places and people I have been seeing along my trip, but my days keep getting better and more lovely.  It is like with each passing day I am relaxing and unwinding all the more from the last four years in Arizona.  It feels so good, and knowing that I am heading toward this goal of my PhD program at Miami (OH) makes it feel all the better.  Gah - it is all so amazing that it is actually happening!  

Tomorrow I am off to Dayton for a couple days and am hoping to head to Cincy one afternoon to check out that whole scene.  It will be nice to see Keri Jane and to unload some of my stuff from my apartment, which her and her wife Rachel are selflessly storing for me until I move into my flat in Oxford!