the weather is getting colder... Christmas is in the air!

This past Sunday, I had some visitors to the city!! My aunt, uncle, cousin and cousin's girlfriend came in for the day and I got to play tour guide bringing them all around midtown to see the famous sights of the city!  We covered Rockefeller Center, 5th Ave, Times Square and Herald Square where Macy's is located!  I was able to see the Rockefeller Christmas tree for the first time as well as the newly decorated store windows on 5th Ave!  Despite the freezing cold weather, it was a lot of fun and really put me in the mood for Christmas!!

My family in front of the plaza hotel!

Me, my cousin Matt and Kelsey in the Plaza Hotel!

Extra Large ornaments at Rockefeller Center!

Giant lights!

the three of us in times square!

Times Square in all its glory!!

and of course.... THE TREE!!!  It looks way better at night when it's all lit up; good luck getting to it though, every tourist in the world was trying to get a picture of it.  I'll stick to my little tree in Brooklyn thank you very much :) I get the same ooh and ahh effect when I plug mine in!

This past week I also traveled to SoHo (South of Houston St, not pronounced like that city in Texas but How-Ston).  SoHo is one of my favorite places in the city; and is also one of the easiest places to get lost because the streets are not numbered!  Thank god I didn't get lost, but instead, discovered a creperie with Robyn!  For dinner, I had a crepe filled with Turkey, Gruyere cheese, mushrooms and red sauce!  It was delicious!

Vive la Crepe!!! The wonderful menu!

me and my crepe! yum!

This week I also experimented with cooking and baking!  On Monday, before I witnessed the beating that the Pats brought upon the Jets I made some corn chowder!! It was a really simple recipe, and is still keeping me warm!  I used a little bit of milk, creamed corn, whole kerneled corn, onions, green pepper, salt and pepper to taste, and some red potatoes!  Yum!

Corn Chowder!

And, because my mom is visiting all weekend, last night I experimented with a new cookie recipe, thanks to Giada, my italian idol.  The cookies are double dark chocolate with dried cherries!  They are delicious; I hope I can save some for my Mom before she gets here!

the dough- I had to make the cookies fast because it was so tempting to just eat it like this!

It was a great week in the city and even though the temperatures are dropping, I'm finding ways to keep warm, even if it means curling up with a blanket, a good book and hot cocoa.  None of you want to read about that though, so I'll continue exploring!  Be on the lookout for an update soon when Karyl and Katie take NYC!!!  The rockettes need to watch their backs!