Hoboken

Last night, I and the husband were watching a home and garden show where two cousins did a kitchen makeover in the home of a restaurant owner in Hoboken, New Jersey. Of course we know where Hoboken is and how beautiful is that town. If you have visitors coming over to see New York or New Jersey, you have to bring them to Hoboken to see the view of NYC across the river. It is a beautiful town to walk around, dine and go clubbing.

On that show we were watching last night, some parts of Hoboken were also featured. We right away missed the place. Last time we were there was about four years ago. We want to go again when the weather gets warmer to try Café Michelina, a casual Italian restaurant located on 423 Bloomfield Street in Hoboken. I already downloaded the cafe Michelina menu so I know what to order before we even get there. By the way, they also deliver and you can order your food online at cafemichelina.com. If you live in the area and happens to be in the mood for Chinese food, Precious Hoboken NJ located at 128 Washington St #1 is very accessible for takeout and delivery orders. They are open seven days a week and closes late at 10:30 p.m. Thanks for the local SEO in NJ, making our internet search so easy.

It is about time we should be back in Hoboken. See you soon.

9/11

I was very emotional yesterday while watching the televised Ground Zero memorial ceremonies of the September 11, 2001 attack of the World Trade Center which was held at the new memorial plaza. The memorial spot has cascading waterfalls where the names of those of died during the attack were engraved. This year is the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks which resulted in the deaths of almost 2900 people. All of a sudden I had a flashback of the exact time 10 years ago. I was just 15 miles south of New York City and from the Jersey side, we saw the two towers burning with black smoke coming from the building. I could not believe it was happening.

Last night, we were also watching a film shot by two journalists who happened to be at a firehouse near the World Trade Center doing a documentary on a life of a rookie fire fighter. They showed footages from the time the fire fighters went to Tower 1 after it was hit by a plane up to the time they all went back to the firehouse hours after the two towers collapsed. Lower Manhattan was covered with dust so with the people who were running away, some of them have no idea of what is happening at that moment. All the offices, stores, buildings and hotels in Manhattan were abandoned. The two journalists were at the right time and right place to capture everything that happened during the 9/11. They all survived the attack to tell their most unforgettable film adventure so with all the fire fighters on that firehouse.

Our Trip Down Broadway

Guest post written by Bethany Shuman

For our 36th anniversary, my husband made arrangements for us to stay for a few days in New York City. We were fortunate enough to get a room at the Doubletree right in Times Square! It’s really something else to wake up, look out the window and see humongous advertisements, buildings and light displays. There really isn’t anything like it.

We’ve always loved musicals—but I found out the morning after we arrived that the real reason he took me to NYC was to surprise me with tickets to a few Broadway productions. I couldn’t have thought of a more perfect present!

And he didn’t just get one or two: he purchased tickets for FOUR shows over the course of the weekend—Phantom of the Opera, West Side Story, Chicago, and a production Frank Sinatra’s Come Fly Away. How incredible is that!?

Boy, I am really glad I got a pair of hearing aids in new york, too (we saw a sale on them and decided to snatch them up while we were out). Otherwise, I might have missed some of the great music and lyrics!

It was truly one of the best anniversaries ever.

We Were At The U.S Open

We were at the 2009 U.S. Open for two days. We have been doing this for many years now. If you love tennis, you gotta go to the U.S. open or to any tennis tournaments if they are in your area. The Open started August 31 and it will last until Sept 13 at the Billie Jean Tennis Center in Queens, New York.


This is at the opening day. A grounds shot where you see people on their way to the grounds. As you enter, you will see the big Arthur Ashe Stadium where all the top players play.

This another stadium - the Louis Armstrong stadium. Photo taken during James Blake match. Connected to Louis Armstrong is the Grandstand.

Other than the 3 big courts, there around twenty grounds courts. The advantage of being there on the first day is that you still see top players playing at the ground courts. During the first round, mostly all the courts have matches, so it's up to you to pick on which matches you want to go.

This photo was taken as the players enters a ground court for a match. You have a closer look with the players and most of them are willing to have their pictures taken. You have more chances of having an autograph of your favorite tennis player.

If you get hungry, a lot of food kiosk at the grounds and grandstand. It's your choicer - they burgers, delis, indian food, sushi, chicken and fries, ice cream, mexican food, salads and a lot more. Souvenier shops, bars, concerts or a place to hang around and watch the games on the big screens are all over the area.

It is all fun, fun while at the Open. Day session starts at 11:00 am while night session starts at 5pm. We will surely ba back again next year.

Walmart Supercenter

There is a Walmart store right where we live but last Saturday we happened to stop by this Walmart Supercenter in Monroe, New York. Wow! It is HHHUUGGGEEEE!!! Never been to a supercenter before but I heard about it. It is similar to a warehouse store set-up, the only difference is that you do not shop in bulk quantities like we do in costco, bj’s or sam’s club. A supercenter has everything – produce, meat, fruits, vision center plus everything you see at a regular walmart and a lot more. There are more cashiers, wider aisles and this one is open 24 hours. I enjoyed shopping at this walmart unlike at the regular walmart close our house which is always crowded from the parking lot to the store.

Jollibee in Queens New York

Finally, we have a Jollibee here at the East Coast. The first Jollibee opened last Valentine’s day located at 62-29 Roosevelt Ave., Woodside, New York. This is in the Queens area. We have not been there yet but according to some of my friends, the line was very long during the opening day. They patiently waited for almost five hours to get a bite of the so much missed chicken joy. The long wait is over for a lot of New Yorkers and Jersey Pinoys. It is so much different when you live at the West Coast where there are a lot of Filipino restaurants like Chow King, Max, Goldilocks, etc in a lot of cities and towns but here at the East Coast, so far this is the second Pinoy resto that opened. The first one was Red Ribbon in Jersey City, New Jersey. We will be crossing the Hudson River soon to eat the new Jollibee in Queens. How about opening a branch in Jersey too?
credit: jollibee.com.ph

Miracle at the Hudson

I have posted on my other blog about the US Airways flight 1549 that landed at the Hudson river last week. As a tribute to the heroic acts of the pilot, crews and rescuers, Kenneth Cole, a famous designer put this billboard along West 57th street, New York. The pilot of the aircraft was Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger. All 155 people on board the aircraft are safe.
credit: wcbs880.com

I Want My Kidney Back

This is what a New York doctor is asking from his estranged wife whom he has donated his kidney. When the doctor and his wife were still married, he gave her his kidney in 2001 (out of love) because she was ill. Because they are getting a divorce, Dr. Richard Batista is suing her to return the kidney or demanding $1.5 million as payment instead. The wife filed for divorce in July 2005. Dr. Batista is hurt claiming that his wife had an affair.
credit: news.aol.com

Walmart Worker Dies on Black Friday Stampede

I was watching the evening news and the headline was about a walmart worker got killed during a black Friday sale. It happened this morning at Walmart Valley Stream branch in Long Island, New York. At 5:00 am when the workers got delayed in opening the doors for the 5:00 a.m. sale, shoppers start pounding the steel door until it got broken and pushed the poor worker to the ground. Shoppers did not care, even stepped over the man then started complaining when they were asked to leave. The store was closed for six hours but reopened around 1 p.m. The walmart worker was identified as Jdimytai Damour from Queens, NY. He was taken to the hospital but was pronounced dead about 6 a.m.

A New Star From India

A new Indian actor named Lavrenti Lopez is making a name in Hollywood. He will be playing one lead role in the upcoming movie due to release in April 2009 entitled SubHysteria. Lavrenti who hails from Mumbai, India in the guy to watch out for. He has been successful as a commercial model and now has conquered the Hollywood. Good luck on your first film and hope to see your face more often at the big screen in the future. Visit Lavrenti’s Official Website to get more information and updates on him.

World's Most Expensive New Book

A book about the life and work of Michelangelo which is worth $100,000 was donated by the publisher Marilena Ferrari to the New York Library. It will be on display this coming Tuesday. This velvet and marble bound book is from Italy. Ferrari already sold 20 copies of this book. Hope one day when I go back to the NY Library I can take a photo of this book and post it here.
credit: gmanews.tv