We’re starting a new phase here with the business. It won’t really mean anything to you, the customer, and that’s the best case scenario that we can imagine, but it will mean a big change in the way Mark works and our family life is scheduled. Last Wednesday we received a call that the restaurant where Mark has baked for nearly 2 years was closing. Did we ever think it was a possibility? Yes. Did we think it would happen at this time? Were we prepared? No. In 2 days we would lose our kitchen.

Obviously we didn’t want to shut the business down. We can’t afford to.

There’s a real lack of commercial kitchen space in NYC – the 2 that we knew of in Brooklyn have closed down recently. But we remained calm. It’s like we had no more energy to expend towards negativity after all that’s happened this year. We wasted no time in making some calls and we’re starting to cobble together a solution that while is not ideal, convenient or permanent, will hopefully work. One new kitchen in Brooklyn landed quite serendipitously from an empathetic colleague who suffered through a similar experience (we’ll reveal more as soon as Mark settles in) and the other kitchen is an old familiar one where Mark has worked for the past 7 years, the first 5 as an Executive Pastry Chef and the last 2 years as a 1 day a week consultant. The great thing about the restaurant kitchen is the multiple large convection ovens and huge kitchen space. Mark will be able to get a lot done. The not-so-great thing is that he’ll have to go in on off hours which means that at 2:30am this morning, he’ll wake up to drive to the Upper East Side, do his shift and then work an additional full shift at the restaurant.

As Mark went to sleep tonight at 9pm, we joked that he’d be waking up to get ready to go to work right about the time that I’d probably go to sleep at my normal bedtime. Sooo weird. But we’re hopeful that this new arrangement will work. We don’t know yet how it’ll affect the schedule with the kids and school and childcare for when I’m working on client projects (the old kitchen was conveniently located 6 blocks from our apartment and 3 block from Mia’s school). There are other changes happening too as we’ll also be saying goodbye to our PT nanny of 6 years in a few weeks. This is all new territory. We’ll have to see how it shakes out.

There are a lot of abandoned buildings and houses on Governors island, including churches, a fort and even a castle, but the examples of Colonial and Greek Revival architecture, particularly the yellow wood frame houses that were used as military housing, have been the ones that I’m most curious about (I have an interest in abandoned buildings). I don’t recall any of the houses being open to the public last year, but this year a not-for-profit group called No Longer Empty have curated site specific installations by a dozen and a half artists inside the houses of Colonel Row.

Thank god for art. I have to admit I was a little overwhelmed by how increasingly commercial and crowded the island had become, but stepping into these old houses instantly restored what I had loved about the island last year – a place not touched by time, eerily full of ghosts and a feeling of being transported to a different place, but not knowing exactly which place. It was a much needed break from the circus outside that was our visit last Friday.

Btw, have you checked out the plans for the future build out of the island? I have no idea what’s going on in these renderings (you gotta love those people dropped into architectural drawings). It all looks very interesting.

This summer is the year of unpredictable weather. We left our apartment Friday morning under clear skies, headed towards the Ferry to Governors Island, but as soon as we got on the ferry it started to rain. Not just a summer mist, but pouring rain. We stood under an awning with our umbrella and a makeshift tarp and waited for the rain to pass, which it did.

So Governors Island is totally crowded this year. The island was also full of camp groups on Friday despite the weather on the day we went so there were a lot of kids running around. I think you have to catch the first ferry or bike to the other side of the island if you want the quiet, island experience like we had last year. There’s also more “stuff” available like food and bigger bike rental stations. I guess that is convenient, but it also makes it more commercial and I far preferred the way the island was last year – slightly creepy and Lost/Dharma compound-like.

Still, the kids had fun playing soggy mini golf built by FIGMENT, with each hole is designed by a different artist. Yes, there is art on Governors Island! So much art that we didn’t even get to the other side. Photos to come tomorrow…

We spent the weekend in the burbs again and came in from swimming in the town pool just in time to watch the craziest storm from the huge windows at my mom’s house. It was the kind of storm that I thought we were going to get when we got a tornado watch in NYC Friday night (no tornado but apparently we had hail, say wha?). The hurricane-like winds shut the power down. We ate dinner out in the patio, cooking food on a little gas burner (yeah, the Miller can. That’s totally dad beer). With no power, no internet and no lights, I went to sleep around 10pm and slept nearly 10 hours for the first time this year. I didn’t wake up feeling well rested, though. I felt really tired all day. What gives?

Sara Jensen gave the girls these glasses when she and her family came over to stay with us for a few days. Aren’t they funny? The girls wanted to wear them to the barbeque at Unha’s to surprise the hosts when they rang the doorbell. Kenny laughed and laughed. I think the last thing you’d expect when you open your door to guests is see a couple of kids in groucho marx glasses.

It’s been a pretty amazing week despite the mid-week bump – I played catchup up with a dear old friend from my grad school days and had more first meetings. Sara and I met Anna and Evan for the first time over dinner on Monday night. Anna is as amazing in person as she is on her blog. We kept groaning over the word “tweetup”, but I guess it totally was since I got to know both Anna and Sara on Twitter. Sara and her family are making their way back to the NW right now. We’re going to miss them.

On Tuesday I met Molly for a late lunch, who despite only meeting for the first time that day, has been just amazing to me all week. Her generosity and willingness to brainstorm ideas and help is something that I will never forget.

I think this is one of the things that I have learned this year. It’s okay to reach out to people for help. I have a tendency to try and solve everything on my own, but sometimes you really need the support of people around you even if it’s a nice word or two from people you barely know on Twitter or here on the blog, or the generous offers from people that you just met but feel like good friends you’ve known for years. It’s been really fun to meet so many people for the first time this summer, like Holly, who has always been a great supporter of our business. She is sweet and lovely as you would expect and I was inspired by her humbleness and her devotion and support of artists and designers.

I only hope that I can return the favor.

When you meet people through email or online you can sometimes tell that you will just click. There is no mask or disguise and what you see is the people they really are when you finally meet in person. I feel like I’ve made some good friends for life. All of this – the blog, twitter – all of it, makes us feel like we are never alone.

I went to the New Museum with my friend Karen yesterday. On the ground floor was an installation from Brazilian artist, Rivane Neuenschwander, called I Wish Your Wish. As a visitor, you get to select a ribbon with a wish that speaks to you, which you then must tie around your wrist. You then replace the ribbon with a wish of your own, written on paper. Tradition has it that when the ribbon falls off, your wish will be fulfilled. Karen told me that hers fell off already. I still have mine on and I’ll be waiting patiently. What wish did I choose?

I wish my fears would not limit my actions.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Do you believe in signs? I think we got a major sign yesterday. Something that was not really surprising and maybe even inevitable, but that still threw us in a tailspin and scrambling. It’s a major bump in the road and things will be different from now on, but it won’t deter us.

I think back to the last time we got a sign 2 years ago. It inspired us to build the business. Good things can come out of bad. Sometimes you get too comfortable and need a swift kick to get going. I’m inspired by my mom and all my friends who take risks with their businesses and operate under daily stress but who push forward with their dreams. Things are becoming clearer.

Summer fruits are finally in full season now and that opens up so many dessert options.  But still, what to make?  I love pie, but don’t actually enjoy making it all the time.  And I also love a fruit crisp with a nice streusel topping, but I prefer that in the fall.  Shortcakes can be good, but too often the biscuit is too clunky and heavy.  What about a cobbler?  You know, that often neglected dessert that bring to mind the unrecognizable mush in one corner of a TV dinner?  I’ll be honest, I have never made one before precisely for that reason.  But when you think about what it is – a fruit mixture topped with biscuit dough – it actually combines the best elements of those previously mentioned desserts.  So for a BBQ at a friend’s house recently I used some super-fresh nectarines and blueberries and my favorite shortcake biscuit recipe to make my first cobbler.  It will not be my last.

Nectarine and Blueberry Cobbler (serves 8-10)

1-3/4 cup flour
1 Tablespoon baking powder
2 Tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
5 Tablespoons butter
1/2 cup half & half
5 nectarines, pitted and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 cup blueberries
2 Tablespoons sugar
2 Tablespoons flour

Mix the flour, baking powder, sugar, salt and butter together in an electric mixer with the paddle attachment on low speed until the butter is mostly incorporated into the flour.  Pour in the half & half and mix just until a dough forms.  Roll the dough on a well-floured surface to about 1/2-inch thickness.  Cut into 2-inch shapes (I did squares, but anything will do, or even just tear the pieces by hand into random shapes) and set aside.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Mix the remaining ingredients together in a large bowl, then pour into a baking dish just big enough to comfortably hold all the fruit.  I used a 10-inch round, 1-inch deep ceramic dish, but anything else will do.  Arrange the cut biscuit dough on the top of the fruit, leaving a few small spots uncovered.  Put the dish on a baking sheet (it will most likely bubble over) and bake in the preheated oven for about 45 minutes, or until the biscuits are golden and the fruit is bubbling.  Let cool a bit before serving.

We don’t take on a lot of wholesale accounts – it’s too much for Mark to handle (until we expand that is) but we were very happy to add Radish to our list of retailers earlier this year. Radish is located on Bedford and N7th in Williamsburg (yay, bringing brownies and hazelnut whisky sandwiches to that neighborhood for the first time) and recently opened a few months ago. The small space is charming and packed with all sorts of prepared foods and provisions. If you’re in the neighborhood, make sure to drop by for a visit.

We don’t usually accompany Mark on his deliveries, but I haven’t been to Williamsburg in years (I know! And oh my, how it’s changed in a few years) so we all decided to tag along. I wanted to check out the shop and we had lunch at a new spot called Cafe Colette on Berry and N9th. We didn’t have time to walk over and hang out at the waterfront, one of my favorite spots in the city, but we’ll save that for next time. I’m hoping to come back soon when it’s not so hot and we can actually enjoy being outside. I hear that the temps are going to go back down to normal next week, hovering in the mid-80s. With what we’ve had lately, it’s almost going to feel like Fall.

I guess this is the norm for July. The days have been hazy, lazy. With Mia off from camp and work being slow, it’s truly been a carefree summer. Mark had a really good day at the Brooklyn Flea on Saturday and we went to our friend Unha and Kenny’s house for a barbeque yesterday. It’s funny to hang out with friends you’ve known for awhile and look around at the gaggle of kids in the room. It’s like, “We made these”.

She looks like a natural, huh? We couldn’t tear her away from the kid-sized drum kit at their house. She was really into it. I don’t think the neighbors would appreciate all that noise coming from our apartment, but it did make me think that at some point the kids should get music lessons.

I started piano lessons when I was about 8 years old. I went over to my friends house every Saturday because we didn’t have a piano back then and we shared a teacher. We didn’t like him though and we always hid in her room with the door locked when we heard the doorbell. We didn’t like the way he wrapped his arms around us to reach the keyboard when he wanted to show us how to play something. It felt like we were being cornered, so when he came knocking on my friend’s door to announce his arrival, we made zipper sounds by rubbing our fingernails on our cords and shouted that we were still getting dressed. A year later my mom bought us our own piano and my brother and I took piano lessons with a new teacher all the way through high school. Half the time I found lessons to be annoying, but I’m glad that I pushed through them, considering I would eventually study music in college after art school.

I can’t tell what instruments the girls might be into. If your kid takes music lessons, how did you decide?

(p.s. btw, Mia hasn’t been wanting to be photographed lately which is why she hasn’t appeared too much. I see the seeds of adolescent self consciousness starting to creep in.)

NYC is a walking town. On average, we’ll end up walking a few miles a day at the end of the day which makes it almost excusable that we don’t regularly work out (almost). It’s funny that when we hit the burbs or some other city or town where cars rule, we’ll automatically enter into that mentality of taking the car to distances we wouldn’t think twice about walking in the city. But in the city, walking is where it’s at.

But it isn’t always easy with young kids. Mia got out of the stroller fairly early at 3 because at that point I was pushing 2 kids up and around our hilly neighborhood which meant I was hauling close to 50 pounds of kid, stroller and bags filled with baby crap in a double stroller. My back couldn’t really take too much. Mia grew accustomed to walking longish distances because her preschool was 4+ very long city blocks up the hill, an equivalent of 3/4 of a mile. For the most part she rarely complained, though sometimes it took twice as long to get to our destination.

If you’ve ever walked with small kids you know what I’m talking about. They stop at every tree or flower. They’ll take breaks on every other stoop. They’ll run up ahead as fast as they can and then run back down, exerting more energy than necessary which fuels more ammunition to the inevitable “I’m tired” whine (so stop running!). They’ll step onto a ledge while hanging on to the wrought iron fence and creep along, ever so slowly, inch by inch. Sometimes, they’ll stop altogether and just park themselves on the sidewalk.

Still, I’m glad that for a month now, we’ve been completely stroller free. I thought it would be harder. Claudine loved the stroller. She was one lazy baby who never learned to crawl, didn’t like to move much and didn’t walk until she was almost 18 months. She LOVED the stroller. We’ve been leaving the stroller at home a few times a week when walking Mia to school. We’ve been leaving it behind when taking the train to Manhattan. And now, the old Maclaren, the same 6 year old stroller we used to push Mia around as a baby before we had Claudine, has been permanently folded and stored in the closet.*

(*can’t part with it just yet. It’s there just in case. This is NYC after all).

But not the weather. The weather has been ass, but we are really enjoying the big chunks of leisure time during the summer slowdown. Lots of time to blow bubbles and walk barefoot in the grass. Hard to believe, but it’s midsummer already. It already feels like we’ve done a lot, but the second half will be even better. Mark’s been able to park himself on the couch with a glass of wine a few nights a week and will begin tackling one of his favorite tasks – planning our trip. We are so excited to go to Seattle for 2 weeks next month. As usual, we are packing it in as we have a lot of friends and family to see, but some of the highlights are a 40th birthday celebration and an overnight sleepover at the family cabin at the lake (another lakehouse!), a day trip to Canon Beach, and of course meeting Lecia and Sally.

In the meantime, I’ve scheduled dates with friends I haven’t seen in awhile and here is a list of places and things we’d still like to do before school starts up again the second week of September (if only the weather would cooperate!):

PS 1
Governor’s Island
row boats in Central Park
Pier 62 and Pier 63 in Hudson River Park
Socrates Sculpture Park
Wave Hill
The Cloisters
A Rooftop Film
The New Museum
Dia Beacon

Um, ok. Maybe this list will take us into early Fall (Humidity! Heat! Rain! Curses!).