Friday, December 27, 2013

Financier Pastries - A Mouthwatering Solution to Post Christmas Gift-giving!


Cookies well worth the Calories!


----A Postcard from New York Encore---

A quick and hassle free solution to after Christmas gift-giving woes...just pick up the nearest phone. If like me, the frantic Holiday pace does not end until New Year's Day, you still have some holiday gifts to purchase, this tiny French bakery could be your lifesaver. When this Postcard first appeared Financier had only two colorful shops; at last count, they now have ten beautiful patisseries around town. Find the one near you on their website, place your order, and pick up your delicious treats handsomely wrapped and ready to delight some lucky person. I thought you might enjoy this story written by Postcard's photographer about how we first stumbled upon the charming flagship store near Wall Street on a photo shoot a few years ago. From his description, you can almost taste the cookies ...my personal favorite, the macarons--the best outside Paris!

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Dear Postcards from New York Reader,

Many of you will be shocked to learn that Jacqueline Cable has been trying to kill me for years. This conspiracy started during an early 1990's trip to Scotland (in preparation for a Golf Tour.) Jacqueline was determined to get into an ancient cathedral that happened to be closed. She was dragging me from locked door to locked door, pounding on them mercilessly, "Joseph, there must be a caretaker or rector somewhere, come on, they'll hear me knocking."

To my utter surprise, when I looked down I realized we were walking on big flat grave markers, overgrown with moss and lichen. A moment later, BAM! I was flat on my back, cracked a 17th century grave marker, (sorry Mr. Ross MacDonald), and in utter pain...

Fast forward to a hot day in July in New York City on a Postcards from New York photo shoot; Jacqueline raced between landmark buildings and monumental sculpture, this time around lower Manhattan, demanding I keep up. I was ready to call it a day. We had been running around since early morning and I was very pleased with the abundance of photos waiting in my camera.

"Joseph, come on, one more waterfall, just one - I promise..." she prodded. Suddenly walking on the uneven 18th century pavement, I thought of Scotland, and several other near death experiences. However, my fear was unwarranted and we made it to the "last" waterfall, and guess what? My perseverance was rewarded. Just behind Chase Plaza and Jean Dubuffet's sculpture group, "Group of Four Trees", I found Financier Patisserie. My bonus for a long day's work.

I walked in from the unrelenting heat of the day to discover a cornucopia of wonderful baked jewels. I am a self confessed cookie-aholic; I love cookies! They remind me of my German and Italian grandmothers, Oma and Nonna. Oma always said, "It's not a complete day if you don't reward yourself with a cookie." When in Sicily, Nonna spoke to us, letting us know she loved us, with the most amazingly thin butter cookies, almond horns and pinolis. While she spoke no English, and my sisters and I struggled in deficient Italian, "cookie" was universally understood.

There, guarded behind glass, (bullet proof I am sure), in all its glory, was a plate of almond horn cookies! And look, a jewel encrusted lynzar tart - my mother's favorite - ooooo, and macarons - fat and fresh in pastel colors and delicate flavors! WAIT what is that? Thin toasted almond slices on a rich bead of swirling dark chocolate. The sight of these cookies brought me back to my childhood, to my grandmother's kitchens and the espresso bars of Italy. Needless to say I left with a wonderful lime-green striped box full of these divine cookies to sample at home later.

As I paid the cashier, Jacqueline called, "Joseph, come on, I need a picture of just one more fountain, it's not a waterfall, I promise." OK, I said, no more waterfalls, just one more fountain..."

Go Eat Something Good!

Joseph Knight

Address to Remember: Financier Patisserie, 35 Cedar Street (between Pearl and William), New York, NY 10005, 212-952-3838, http://www.financierpastries.com/

Directions: From Times Square MTA 2 or 3 to Wall St. walk west to Pearl St. and north to Cedar.



  • If you like today's issue, why not become a subscriber to Postcards from New York? To start receiving your own copy of Postcards each week in your email inbox, click here and enter your email address on the far right side of the webpage. Be sure to check your email in-box for a confirmation email, then just click where indicated to activate your subscription.  Or, forward this e-mail to a friend so they can sign-up to receive Postcards from New York as well.


  • You can also choose to receive Postcards From New York as an RSS feed. Click on the small orange button (subscribe as a Reader) on the right side of the webpage to activate the RSS. Then you will receive new "Postcards" on your email homepage, and you will have all past "Postcards" archived at your fingertips.  Be sure to check your email in-box for a confirmation email, then just click where indicated to activate your subscription.




  • Photo by Joseph Knight

    © Copyright 2007-13 The Cable Group

    Wednesday, December 25, 2013

    What's Open Christmas Day in New York for Kids?



    Get your Preschooler out on the ice!


    ----New York for Kids Series part 7 ----


    Dear Postcards from New York Reader,

    Merry Christmas everyone!   For those of you who don't celebrate Christmas, enjoy a restful day off with your family.  Here's something for parents to keep in their back pocket after the gifts have been unwrapped and the thrill of new toys, gadgets and computer games have worn off and you are restless to get out with the kids.  A few suggestions that are great fun and Open Christmas Day!

    • Madame Tussauds - The grand dame of Wax Museums. From experience, I can report that the wax figures are as engaging to adults as kids. Just off Times Square you have a choice of major fast food restaurants close by, and if you are looking for more heathy food choices, you will find a Shake Shack on 8th Avenue at 44th Street.
    • The Observatory at the Empire State Building - Although a must for tourists, it is amazing how many people who live here have never been up. Enjoy a spectacular view from every angle, you won't want to come down.
    • Chelsea Piers - While everything else at the Piers will be closed, the Sky Rink is open!  Rinks at Bryant Park, Wollman and Rockefeller Center are open as well, however, Chelsea is more off-the-beaten path and sure to be less crowded.  Get some much needed exercise after the holiday frenzy, skate off pent-up energy and house fever.  The rink is guaranteed to keep the whole family, from preschoolers to grandparents, absorbed for hours.

    Enjoy a terrific day!

    Jacqueline Cable


    Addresses and Directions to Remember:

    Madame Tussauds, 234 West 42nd St. between 7th & 8th Ave., New York, NY 10036, 212-512-9600, http://www.madametussauds.com/.  From Times Square MTA walk west one half block.

    Empire State Building, 350 Fifth Ave @ 34th St., New York, NY 10018, 212-736-3100, www.esbnyc.com.  From Times Square MTA N, Q, R, W to 34th St. walk east to 5th Ave.

    Chelsea Piers, Pier 61- 23rd St. and Hudson River Park, New York, NY 10011, 212-336-6100, http://www.chelseapiers.com.  From Times Square MTA A, C, N, Q, R, 1, 2, or 3 to 23rd St., walk west or take the M23 bus to Hudson River and the Piers.


  • If you like today's issue, why not become a subscriber to Postcards from New York? To start receiving your own copy of Postcards each week in your email inbox, click here and enter your email address on the far right side of the webpage. Be sure to check your email in-box for a confirmation email, then just click where indicated to activate your subscription.  Or, forward this e-mail to a friend so they can sign-up to receive Postcards from New York as well.


  •  
  • You can also choose to receive Postcards From New York as an RSS feed. Click on the small orange button (subscribe as a Reader) on the right side of the webpage to activate the RSS. Then you will receive new "Postcards" on your email homepage, and you will have all past "Postcards" archived at your fingertips.  Be sure to check your email in-box for a confirmation email, then just click where indicated to activate your subscription.




  • Photo courtesy of the Wollman Rink at Central Park


    © Copyright 2007-13 The Cable Group

    Friday, December 6, 2013

    Postcards is Back! How I Joined the Octopus Club





    Dear Postcards from New York Reader,

    The phone rang, caller ID announced it was my sister Bev. I picked it up, Hey Bev, what's up? A bit out of breath, a tinge of anxiety in her voice immediately sounded the alarm; she forgot greetings and blurted out “Mommy’s in the hospital!” My neck tightened and a gripping shutter whizzed up and down my spine. “What happened,” I nervously asked? “She collapsed, we couldn’t revive her, and we’re waiting to find out what caused it.”

    So began a stomach gripping, roller coaster ride through hospital emergency rooms, cardiac and neurology recovery and rehabilitation facility revolving doors. Many times, Mom did not appear she would make it through the night. Doctors told us there was nothing more they could do. Granted, my Mom is an elderly person, a final exit proceeded by illness is a common occurrence for someone of her age and compromised medical condition. The unfortunate story, however, is her medical problems, and there were many, were the result of prolonged misuse of sleeping pills and mood altering prescription drugs.

    A titanic struggle of wills, Mom on one side, Beverly and myself on the other, consumed the next four years and still continues. Against her will, a lifelong insomniac finally overcame her dependence on sleeping pills, only to have her doctors diagnose chronic depression and early stage dementia. Now, several strokes later, the battle continues to improve her health and find an answer to her sleepless nights, as every day she becomes more fragile.

    Not unlike Odysseus’ odyssey, it has been a totally absorbing journey that has presented new and daunting challenges almost daily. Not the least of which is–how is it that three daughters cannot take care of one mother? Moms seem to have no problem raising several children???

    The “O” Club

    For years, when spending time shopping, enjoying a lunch or brunch break with female friends, relatives and many times my Mom, I would notice a vacant daze cross their face while in the midst of an engaging conversation, and then they starred at me as if they could no longer comprehend what I said, or could not hear me.

    There it was, “the Look.” I realized they were gone. Lost in a world of thinking about, would traffic prevent Michael getting home on time to pick up..., was Sasha back from ..., had the neighbor remembered Chanel after ballet..., did I forget to ..., before I left home, on, and on, and on.

    The eternal condition of “Moms,” like a many armed octopus, their invisible arms are forever connected to kids both young and adult, grandkids, spouses, and parents. They can never go anywhere without this invisible connection.

    When “the Look” appeared, shaking my head, rolling my eyes, I would wonder to myself why these ladies could never take a timeout, relax, enjoy the moment, embrace a shared experience...”be present.”

    My apologies ladies, I just did not understand. When one becomes a "Mom," freedom is gone forever. I take my hat off to friends, family, my own Mom, and you my readers who are members of the "O" Club. I finally get it, because I have joined you.

    I hope Postcards Readers can forgive the long silence, my Mom’s convalescence left not a moment to think about, much less experience the fun things Postcards celebrates.

    We are back! Please join us as we continue to explore the “banquet” New York offers. And, we have some exciting announcements: the handy guide-- New York Get There--will soon be available as an APP, the Japanese edition of Postcards is on the drawing board, a new Postcards book is in progress, and today marks the launch of Postcards from Rome, the blog and newsletter for Live in Italy Now! Proof, one can accomplish a great deal while spending hours in doctor's offices and at the side of hospital beds.

    Postcards from Rome will not only feature great places and things to explore in Rome for visitors; it provides terrific information for anyone who has ever thought about living abroad in Italy.

    So, please visit www.liveinitalynow.com and sign-up to receive Postcards from Rome, and grab the FREE 68 page must read e-book--What every International Traveler should Know before you Go!

    If you have never been to Rome, but have thought about it, if you have thrown a coin in the Trevi Fountain and hope to someday go back, would love to spend an extended vacation, work or study in Rome or Italy, then www.liveinitalynow.com is the resource for you! Don’t delay! Sign-up today!

    Jacqueline Cable
    For Postcards from New York




    © Copyright 2007-13 The Cable Group