Taking a little break from Peru…
People ask me all the time…what do you do while living in New York City? So I thought I’d share my Sunday…
A month or so ago I started attending the morning sessions at the Community Meditation Center here in my neighborhood, the Upper West Side. I’ve always been interested in the teachings of Buddha, and each week the founder, Allan Lokos, shares these teachings with the community. Allan and his wife started the center as a place for people to come together after the events of September 11th. A number of years later their focus moved to the study and practice of meditation. On Christmas day in 2012, both were in a horrific plane crash while traveling in Myanmar. After months of hospitalization and rehabilitation, they returned to the center to continue their work. It’s a wonderful atmosphere for learning and reflection…
Only a few blocks away is our Sunday Farmers market…and now that we are heading into summer…well the farmers from New Jersey and New York areas are in abundance. Oh…the sweet aroma of strawberries…and fresh cut flowers! A perfect opportunity to pick up fresh fruits and veggies for the upcoming week. What I love most is you get to know who grows your food while providing an opportunity to support the very labor intensive business of farming. These markets are all over the city, not only for the folks that live here but for many of the restaurant chefs as well. So fortunate to have this market in my hood that I’ve now supported for six years! (yep…six years this month in NYC…I can’t believe it myself!)
Then it was off to a Greek Jewish Festival in the Lower East Side.
It’s always a learning experience here in the city…a little hidden treasure just a block away from Chinatown…the Kehila Kenosha Janina Synagogue. It was a tiny write-up in the New York Times of “things to do” over the weekend that interested me. A festival to celebrate the Romaniote and Sephardic heritage.
The Romaniotes are Greek speaking Jews…indigenous Jews of the eastern Mediterranean. This tiny synagogue is the only Romaniote synagogue in the Western Hemisphere. Who knew?
The first ever festival in 88 years…the synagogue opened its doors to the surrounding neighborhood and the entire city with traditional food, music and dance. A culture that’s 2,000 years in the making! Fascinating!
And while in the area…and many of you know that pencils are my thing…a stop at Caroline Weaver’s darling little pencil shop…cw pencil enterprise…located on Forsyth Street.
So excited to add a couple of Swiss made pencils (Caran d’Ache) to my collection as well as the wonderful “extra dark” Nataraj pencil from India. (Thanks Lisa for the heads up on this little gem!)
The day wouldn’t be complete without partaking in a new restaurant while in the Lower East Side area…so a delightful brunch at the tiny La Contenta. Oh…and does Alex (bartender/partner) know how to make a margarita. (ok…several.)
New York City is filled with amazing people, places and things to do…which is why there’s never a dull moment here in my city! Ok…back to Peru!
Yes, your city is truly fascinating! I can see how you are involved in the meditation center, seems like it would be right up your ally with wonderful people and of course the farmers market! But then on to a Greek Jewish Festival and a pencil shop! There’s a pencil shop? How splendid! And Alex … now Alex, magic maker of margaritas, he seems like he would be right up MY ally! Thanks for sharing your Sunday and all the wonderful images xo
Thanks Susan! So much! Love that you are always popping over to visit! xoxo
Ok, one of the best and most intuitive photographers I know on WordPress, and now a great tour guide. we won’t mention the margaritas but perhaps we can discuss those in more detail if we ever meet 🙂
LOL…Peter you are just too funny! Thank you though… and I bet one day our paths will cross! 🙂
Your city has become more alive and vibrant than I’ve ever seen before from anyone else, Robin. Kudos to you for finding these gems…all the time. Seriously. You could live a thousand years there and still be finding something we’ve never heard of!
BTW, I’ve started coloring again (after more than a year), and am like a little girl in the candy store. I can totally understand why you love pencils (even though I use felt pens). BRAVA.
The problem is there’s more to do here than one has the time, ha ha! Thank you so much! And so happy to know you’re coloring again! I hope you’re working on more of those amazing Celtic symbols!!
Sounds like a perfectly fun-filled Sunday to me! I remember my first visit to “your city” and you took me to the farmers market where we bought the best tomatoes and fresh basil I ever had for our salad, and then we went on to find the BEST smoked cheese ever! We bought so much cheese we ate cheese and crackers for our happy hours the entire four days I was there and still had more than enough left over.. Fun, Fun, Fun… Thanks for sharing your perfect Sunday! XoXo
We had so much fun didn’t we! Oh, and don’t forget those apples! YUMMERS!!! xoxoxo
What a great celebration and that they keep remembering the roots where they came from. Those two boys are adorable. A pencil shop…..wow… A good pencil is worth a lot, not only in money but to have it balanced right in the hand….
Wonderful pictures.
Love and hugs.
Yeah! Someone that understands pencils! 🙂 Thanks Astrid! xo
YOur NYC view is always true to the city, but also always upbeat and exciting. Brava!