Christmas 2008

I had a great Christmas dinner!

Music is "Ye Merry Gents" by Billy Paul Williams

Christmas Card

Here's a lovely Christmas Card by New York artist, Annie Poon.

My video accepted to Mumbai Int'l Film Festival

Today my video "Festival of South Asia, Toronto 2008" was officially accepted to the Sixteen:Nine International Film Festival in Mumbai

I find out in January if I made the shortlist or not.

You're invited...

You're invited to a very special and very fun Shoveling Party!!


You're Invited... from chantalsunita on Vimeo.

Astrid Pierce - Live in New York

Not all my friends in New York are science geeks.

My friend Cici (as photographed above by Kerry Kehoe) is the drummer of this New York based band called "Astrid Pierce".  I was lucky that my trip to New York last month fell on a weekend when they had a performance.  I saw them play at "The Annex" (152 Orchard Street, Lower East Side).  

I was thrilled to finally see Cici perform live with the band!  I took some video of their performance.  I've uploaded them for your viewing pleasure.

Clips of their songs listed below are:

1) "Through the Full Length Mirror"

2) "My my Maria"

3) "25"

For more information on Astrid Pierce (including recent updates, pix, and to sample more songs), go to their MySpace page or find them on Facebook.

They will be releasing an album coming out early 2009.

"Through the Full Length Mirror"

"My my Maria"

"25"

Xmas Decorations @ Chantal Sunita HQ

Xmas Decorations at Chantal Sunita Headquarters.  You can thank my sister for all the nice decorations.  Music is "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" by Brenda Lee.

Meet Sally

Sally is Aileen & Cristian's new Bulldog puppy.  She is 7 months old.  This is my first time meeting her.

Christmas Lights - Hire Me!

Here's my pitch.  By appointment only.  Book fast, my calendar is rapidly filling up.

Christmas Lights - Hire Me! from chantalsunita on Vimeo.

Dining @ SEA in Brooklyn

This is my favourite restaurant.  Trendy and hip atmosphere.  Delicious cocktails.  Cheap eats.  Cool tunes.  Modern art.  Big space.  A restaurant to impress.

If you have visited me in New York, I have taken you here.  In this video I am dining with my friends, Ania and Jerome. 

Take the "L" train to "Bedford" (one stop into Williamsburg) and it's a 2 minute walk.

114 N 6th Street 

11211 Brooklyn, NY 

1-718-384-8850

Dining at SEA in Brooklyn from chantalsunita on Vimeo.

Dining Solo in SoHo at Bar 89 in New York

89 Mercer Street (at Spring).  N/R/W/Q to Canal Street OR 6 to Spring Street.
Simple but elegantly designed; Ella, Duke, Charles, and Dinah playing in the restaurant. Funky unisex bathrooms with doors that magically frost over when you close the latch. Huge amounts of food for a reasonable price. And, killer martinis.

Dining Solo in SoHo at Bar 89 in New York from chantalsunita on Vimeo.

New York artist, Annie Poon - rate her video!

A delicious lunch at Spice in the Upper East Side with Mary.  Annie Poon is her sister!

"Lost?" video for Coldplay music video competition, (her video posted below),created by New York artist, Annie Poon. She made this video using paper cut-outs and animated on her worktable. For more info visit http://www.anniepoon.com. To rate her video, click: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64LJ-yKYfgU

Garth Celebrates His 29th Birthday

It was a very fun and entertaining night.  Part 1 at the Lone Star Cafe; Part 2 is Garth doing Madonna in drag (MAN-donna!).  Click here for the full version of his Man-donna performance!

2 Idiots Discuss a (Basic) Road Sign

Out for a smoke break at Garth's Party.  We tried to figure out the meaning of this common road sign.  I think we failed.

2 Idiots Discuss a (Basic) Road Sign from chantalsunita on Vimeo.

Cover Girls

Emma and I have been very busy girls recently. 

Wardrobe Malfunction

Violet and Janet have at least one thing in common.

Violet Reveals Her Bra Size

Chilling, relaxing, and getting ready before hitting the streets on Halloween.

Getting Ready on Halloween Night

My first time experimenting with zombie type makeup or special effects makeup. I think I put too much on and should have stopped around 1min into the video.
But in the end, I think it turned out OK!
Music is "Living Dead Girl" by Rob Zombie.

Getting Ready on Halloween Night from chantalsunita on Vimeo.

Halloween Drive in Forest Hill

Mello and I go for a spooky Halloween drive in the Forest Hill area of Toronto late at night. Rich houses that are rich with Halloween decorations. Music is "Miss Black" by Ladytron.


Halloween in Forest Hill from chantalsunita on Vimeo.

C'mon Baby Light My Fire

I love that song.  And alot of people seem to like this pic.  Rest of pix in this set can be found HERE.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Happy Thanksgiving from chantalsunita on Vimeo.

Goofing with Alanis lyrics

The boys and I went to see Alanis Morissette live in concert at Massey Hall in Toronto. We captured some pre-concert excitement. See how many lyrics / phrases / song titles you can identify.

Goofing with Alanis lyrics from chantalsunita on Vimeo.

Alanis singing "Ironic". Live at Massey Hall

Short Film Fest & Mel's Diner

Marcos, Ankur, and I spend the day in The Annex watching 4 hours of The Best International Student Shorts Film Festival (which was wonderful!), followed by a huge late dinner @ Mel's Diner.

Student Short Films Bloor Cinema Toronto 2008 from chantalsunita on Vimeo.

Safety First

1 floor below us is a construction site. I moved myself and my computer down there for some quiet time - the construction guys finish work early.  I made a video to test out one of PhotoBooth's effects as a movie.  This is called "Thermal Effect".

Lazy People CAN Have Flowers!

Tips for keeping your flowers hydrated, courtesy of my friend Michelle.


Lazy People CAN Have Flowers! from chantalsunita on Vimeo.

GOLDFRAPP Live: "Utopia"

This has been a wonderful month so far!  Last week it was seeing my favourite actor Isabelle Huppert live @ the TIFF, this week it's seeing one of my favourite bands, Goldfrapp.

I LOVE GOLDFRAPP!  Saw them in concert tonight here in Toronto.  A sold out audience.  I was so happy I got tickets!  I was 8 rows from the stage and could see Lady Goldfrapp clearly for the entire performance.  I was THRILLED that they sang one of my favourite songs by them, Utopia.  I had chills down my spine for the entire song.  This video was originally uploaded by Trumiko on YouTube.  I just love the lyrics and I have an idea for a video I want to shoot, using "Utopia"...coming later on.

It's a strange day

No colours or shapes

No sound in my head

I forget who I am

When I'm with you

There's no reason

There's no sense

I'm not supposed

To feel

I forget who I am

I forget

Fascist baby

Utopia, utopia

My dog needs new ears

Make his eyes

See forever

Make him live

Like me

Again and again

Fascist baby

Utopia, utopia

I'm wired to the world

That's how I know everything

I'm superbrain

That's how they made me

Fascist baby

Utopia, utopia

Canadian Coverage of the TIFF Sucks!

I am dismayed at the Canadian (and American, I guess) coverage of the TIFF. Instead of focusing on authentic talent, they continue to write stories and photograph the McDonalds quality of the "film industry". This is a festival which should focus and showcase raw talent; to give a chance to the lesser known artists (and to celebrate those who are profound), film makers and directors from different countries and languages, etc. Instead we need to read about Paris Hilton crashing a TIFF party in today's newspaper. Can someone send me a Barf Bag? (free present today on Facebook, I need one, for real). 

I am also greatly disappointed at the fact that Canadian Press (and American Press, I guess) seem incapable of following any film that comes from outside Canada or the US. What a disgrace. This is an International film festival. This sort of coverage certainly detracts from the "prestige" of the TIFF. It has become a watered down festival whose main goal is to focus on those who won the popularity contest in North America. I am not interested in this, in the slightest. Perhaps I have a New York attitude where celebrities are sighted all the time, and NO ONE cares! I walked past Sex and the City's Sarah Jessica Parker on 2nd Avenue on my way to work one morning...there she was, no disguise, just walking her kid...and NO ONE cared.

I want to learn, read about, hear more about, and see films which showcase raw and authentic talent such as Isabelle Huppert's performance in last night's "Un Barrage Contre Le Pacifique", which I attended, and which she attended and spoke at. Sadly the press did not spend one second on her or her film (which represented both France and Cambodia) despite the fact that she is among one of the greatest actors of her generation and her career has spanned over 30 years, and, is the only actress to ever win twice at Cannes. 

Or Deepa Mehta whose film "Water" opened the TIFF last year which was a big deal seeing as she is a Female director, a Canadian director (she emigrated to Canada from India) whose film was entirely in Hindi, not English. This year she had "Heaven on Earth" in the TIFF which was not even mentioned for a second.

The point is:
Soon the TIFF will lose it's "character" if reporters and journalists continue to treat it like this and pay attention to utter crap. We want to see, hear, and read about INTERNATIONAL film makers and actors, who have made an imprint on WORLD CINEMA - not hear about those on the cover of last week's gossip rags.

Isabelle Huppert Introduces Her New Film Tonight @ TIFF

I was thrilled to attend the special screening at the Elgin Theatre of Isabelle Huppert's new film "Un Barrage Contre Le Pacifique". In the first video I give my 2 cents and commentary before the screening. Second video is my video of Huppert introducing the film. I love the vibe of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) - it is so exciting to be a part of! I was happy to see Huppert in the flesh and to be in the same audience as her, as she is my favourite actor!
She was introduced as "one of the best actors of her generation". I couldn't agree more.

Isabelle Huppert @ the Toronto International Film Festival tomorrow night!

I will be going to see "Un Barrage Contre le Pacifique (The Sea Wall)" . It stars one of my all time favourite actors: International film star Isabelle Huppert ; and when I heard that she is going to be at the film's premiere, I just knew I had to get tickets! I am so excited to be going! And I am thrilled that I am going to get to SEE HER and listen to the Q&A about the film afterwards, it's quite exciting. And ofcourse it is quite cool to be attending a screening of the Internationally acclaimed TIFF.

I find Huppert to be supremely talented. I am moved by all of her work whether the writing or direction is good in the film or not, it is always very moving to watch her performances. Her career has spanned over 3 decades (so far) and she has been in nearly 40 films; she is also known as one of France's most successful actors of all time and as received a zillion awards throughout her career thus far. She also partners up quite often with French director, Claude Chabrol whose work I immensely enjoy, with or without Huppert. But when him and Huppert collaborate, it is a marriage of sheer talent and brilliance.

I really enjoy Huppert playing a psycho manic, as alot of her roles are....for example in the 70's she starred in a film (based on a true 1933 story of) a teenage prostitute who falls for a gigolo, and kills her parents for their money to support him; or the homicidal postal worker who corrupts a young and innocent housekeeper and instigates irreparable destruction to a trusting and extremely likeable family; or the seductive middle-aged mother who leads her son into temptation; or the woman who falls for a much younger man who is an abusive male hustler; or her portrayal of Gustave Flaubert's controversial MADAME BOVARY in which she is married to a dull doctor and satisfies her boredom and desires by having outside lovers; or the severely repressed piano teacher who finally comes alive when she falls for one of her young students and becomes insanely obsessed with him. Huppert is brilliant. She is very intense and powerful actor; her films at times are deeply emotional and haunting. For example, "La Ceremonie" by Claude Chabrol. Your head will spin at the intense and intricate story...the secrets...the jaw dropping and shocking ending to the film, and most of all, her performance. Wow.

Loud Party 2 Doors Down

The neighbours 2 doors down are usually invisible.  Tonight they're celebrating a special occasion. They have hired a live band and have been playing for over 6 hours straight. 

Vote for GARTH!

My dear friend Garth has worked very hard on a "classic house remix" of Mariah Carey's "I'll Be Lovin' You Long Time".  

Garth has been making remixes for a number of years and has entered his remix to a special contest that Indaba Music is doing.  Cast your vote now!

http://www.indabamusic.com/submissions/show/2202

Vote for GARTH! from chantalsunita on Vimeo.

Fun with Wigs! (Part Deux)

2 guys, 2 girls, 2 cameras, 1 night.

WE ARE EASILY AMUSED :)

Earlier this year we had another shoot.  Video is here.

Festival of South Asia as Hot & Spicy as the Food

TORONTO - I must say that I am very impressed by all of the culturally diverse festivals and events that are happening in Toronto since I moved back from New York. I stumbled upon this wonderful site http://www.torontozig.com/ which has been my guide to what is going on in this city. I feared that moving back to Toronto would mean a socially boring life with nothing to do and nothing to see, but that has not been the case.

I was counting down the weekends to the Festival of South Asia and finally it arrived; I was not disappointed. Unlike the Taste of the Danforth, it was a perfect weekend weather-wise, it was very hot and sunny – and I think that it added to the festival’s vibrance. Equipped with my camera, I headed down to Gerrard Street (Toronto) (between Coxwell and Greenwood) which is the headquarters of the festival and one of the largest South Asian marketplaces in North America. Gerrard Street East was completely shut down and the cars that normally populate the streets were replaced with street vendors selling clothes, shoes, food, drinks, music, and DVDs. (Read the rest of the article on www.TravelJournalNetwork.com)

Festival of South Asia, Toronto 2008 from chantalsunita on Vimeo.

Wine & Cheese Party

Busy day at work, but never too busy for a Wine & Cheese party. Everyone invited!

Tastebuds Tantalized at the Taste of the Danforth

FOOD AND DRINK - This second weekend of August 2008 marked the 15th annual Taste of the Danforth celebration in Toronto’s vibrant Greektown which is on the Danforth between Broadview and Jones Avenues. The festival spans over a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday each year and it has been known to attract up to a million people over the course of those three days. The Taste of the Danforth is also know as one of the best Greek festivals outside of Greece.

Equipped with my umbrella I headed down to the Danforth excited to soak in all the festivities (pardon the pun)! It rained all three days, but that hardly stopped people from enjoying and participating in the festival. In addition to all the restaurants being open and ready for business, they also had stations on the road and sidewalk selling food and drinks to serve all of the hungry and thirsty festival attendees. Beef, pork, and chicken souvlaki and gyros were popular, as were shish kabobs, and spinach and cheese pies.

The spinach pies (aka Spanakopita) and cheese pies (aka Tiropita) were my favourites! The spanakopitas are a rich pie that is stuffed with spinach, onions, cheeses, herbs, and it is all neatly packed in a thick fillo dough.

My day ofcourse would not be complete without something sweet. I promptly found the sweets vendors who were selling one of my favourite greek sweets, Baklava, which is made with honey, nuts, and sugar – also very delicious!

The Taste of the Danforth festival also incorporates some other cultures, showcasing Toronto’s diversity; for example: there was Indian food and Thai food stations where one can buy food and drinks. Vendors were also making crepes which is a very thin cooked pancake which is usually accompanied with ice cream, syrups, and fruit. The Danforth is a great area to hang out at, meet friends for dinner at, and to find lovely Greek restaurants and celebrations to have a fun time.

Taste of the Danforth - Toronto Greek Festival from chantalsunita on Vimeo.

TravelJournalNetwork.com is back!

TravelJournalNetwork.com is back! So is my "Cityscape" column. Here is my domain www.cityscape.traveljournalnetwork.com
I will be writing more articles soon! So keep checking the site and reading this blog for updates!

TravelJournalNetwork.com has disappeared

TravelJournalNetwork.com has vanished into thin air, and so has my column, "Cityscape".
No word from the editor at all. The entire site is down. If you know of any writing/video gigs let me know. I will upload my "Mermaid Parade" article that I wrote for them, I quite liked that one. The rest of contributions were more or less incarnations of blogs I have already published on here.

TravelJournalNetwork.com Technical Difficulties

something is wrong with the traveljournalnetwork site. i've emailed the editor. hopefully soon to be fixed. keep you posted. until then my column, Cityscape, will be unaccessible.

Trip to the Toronto Islands on Canada Day

My friends and I planned a Canada Day picnic at Hanlan's Point (1 of 3 of the Toronto Islands). Talking, eating, biking, fun in the sun, swinging, and a visit to the "clothing optional" beach.
It was a good day.

Celebrating Canada Day at the Toronto Island from chantalsunita on Vimeo.

Thursday night drinks @ Voglie

We missed you, Lynne.

Pride 2008: Toronto Again Outed as Major Travel Destination

Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Emma, supporting Pride in NYC, 2007

Toronto - Pride Week (Toronto) celebrates diverse sexual and gender identities, histories, cultures, family, friends, and lives.

Festivities are celebrated all over the world, including cities like New York, Vancouver, Sydney, San Francisco, Montreal, Amsterdam, Paris, Stockholm, London, Scotland, Madrid, and Budapest, just to name a few.

Here in Toronto it is one of the biggest summer events in Canada which generates tourism and pumps revenue into Toronto’s economy. It has an estimated attendance of over one million people. It is one of the major, if not “the” major summer events in this city. Friday June 20th will mark the beginning of the Pride festivities and it will end on Sunday June 29th with the big parade which will travel down Yonge Street, one of Toronto’s most famous streets. Pridetoronto.com has all the information you will need to know about this 10 day event.  You can also download the “Pride Guide” which will give you a day by day breakdown of each day’s festivities and events.

It is important to celebrate Pride to unite and support one (of many communities) that has historically been marginalized and denied the basic human rights that seem to be automatically awarded to other groups without second thought.  Today Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin, a lesbian couple from San Francisco, can legally exchange wedding vows and legally be awarded the same rights as heterosexual couples.  These rights include hospital rights, insurance rights, benefits, equality, recognition, and the privileges that a heterosexual couple would have, even if it is coming 55 years later.  “Lyon and Martin have been a coupe for 55 years and fell in love at a time when lesbians risked being arrested, fired from their jobs and sent to electroshock treatment.” (Associated Press June 16, 2008)  It is largely due to worldwide Pride events and celebrations that this issue and injustice has been brought to light, and finally some equality granted.

The most specific Pride event aims to bring the political to the forefront is the Dyke March which will be happening on Saturday June 28^th at 2pm.  The Dyke march historically has been a women’s/womyn’s led protest march which is more political than the Sunday parade.  It tries to raise awareness for specific groups within the lesbian, bisexual, womyn, and trans community regardless of sexual orientation.

The Sunday Parade is also a lot of fun!  Part corporate, part political, and part community, marching is a ton of fun!  It is even better than sitting at the sidelines watching.  Join a group, dress up in costume, makeup, or uniforms, and dance or walk down the parade route!  There is no better way to see, and be a part of the festivities, than to march in the parade.  Great way to socialize and make new friends and have fun!

There is a three day street festival with over eight stages of live entertainment, an extensive street fair including community booths, vendors, food stalls, and a special Family Pride program taking place at the Church Street Junior Public School (Church and Alexander).  Spice Girl Mel C, Jully Black, Leisha Hailey’s band “Uh Huh Her”, and Thelma Houston (“Don’t leave me this way”) are some of the artists that will be featured on the Pride stages (all performances are free).  There are events for youth such as the Fruit Loopz stage, and family events as well.  Details are in the Pride guide which you can download on the site or which will be available this week on the streets of Toronto.  There are bar events, club events, films, theatre performances, and comedy performances.  Funny gal Sandra Bernhard will be performing at Massey Hall on Sunday June 22, 2008 at 8pm.  For a complete breakdown go to www.pridetoronto.com and you can download a full Pride guide.  Have fun, and, Happy Pride!

 

Dinner @ Pizza Pide w/Turkish Crew

The Turkish crew is a ton of fun.
No digicam on me, but had my computer...
We made this video and took silly Photobooth pix at Pizza Pide. Oğuzhan explains our meal...

Pizza Pide Turkish Cuisine
949 Gerard st. E. Toronto - ON
Pape & Gerard
(416) 462-9666
ALL WEEK DAYS AND WEEKENDS
11. 00 am to 10. 00 pm

Part Mardi Gras, part Art Parade, part Carnival - the Mermaid Parade at Coney Island is not to be missed!

NEW YORK - One of my most memorable and favourite events to hit when I was living in New York was the Mermaid Parade. It is one of the greatest summer events in Brooklyn. Regrettably of my four years living in New York, it was only in my last year that I attended it.

The Mermaid Parade, which originated in New York in 1983 is an event that is distinctly a product of New York and is only celebrated in New York. 

The parade usually begins at 2pm down on Surf Avenue and attracts a couple thousand participants who march, or walk, or dance in the parade either on floats, in marching bands or in groups.  The entire Surf Avenue rapidly becomes packed with hundreds of thousands of spectators all waiting for the fun to start.

The event itself is part Mardi Gras, part Carnival, part Halloween, and part art parade.  The parade exists to celebrate and welcome the beginning of the summer season and to mark the official opening of the Atlantic Ocean.  The parade takes place down in Coney Island, which is located at the most southern point of Brooklyn where land meets ocean.  It is customary for people to go to the boardwalk and throw fruit into the water to appease the Sea God, Poseidon.

Many parade spectators also dress up in extraordinary marine costumes ranging from mermaids, mermen, sea captains, sea creatures, sea monsters, etc.  The weather is so hot this time of year that most of the costumes appear in the form of  colourful and elaborate make-up and body paint.  Accessories are also thoughtful, colourful, and creative: netted costumes, masks, shiny glittery body suits, jewelry and beads; bright and bold body paint meticulously painted on faces, arms, chests and entire bodies.  Costumes are anything and everything that represent Sea Life, both living and dead.  Costumes, colour, and creativity are so outstanding and brilliant that this event is one of most popular events for photographers to shoot.

After the parade there is so much to still see and do!  The day is far from over.  Coney Island is really an exciting place to be.  It is full of life and full of people with great energy!  

On a gorgeous summer day the entire area is packed.  You can go to the beach and swim in the Atlantic Ocean.  You can check out the boardwalk, the shops, the bars, or get something to eat on a patio.  There is also the Coney Island amusement park, “Astroland”, which is right beside the boardwalk.  Check out the Cyclone roller coaster, or the Wonder Wheel (as I did last year - fun times!).  There are haunted houses, fun houses, games where you can win prizes, bumper cars, shops, carnival food to eat, and “Nathan’s Famous” original hot dog stand which opened on Coney Island in 1916 which has become a landmark.

 Between the years of about 1880 and WWII, Coney Island was the largest amusement areas in the US, attracting several million visitors per year.  Today it remains as the home of the Mermaid Parade, and in my opinion one of the most fun(!!) places to hang out where you can lay on the beach, go swimming, eat outdoors on a patio, and take in some amusement rides…all under the sun next to the water!  This is my heaven and my idea of a great day! 

And all for one subway ride away from Manhattan!

Getting there:

D, F, N, Q trains to Stillwell station.

taken from joe holmes on Flickr

Dead or Alive?

taken from LarimdaME on Flickr 

Good as gold. PERFECT body.

Photo taken from www.bluejake.com 

Gothic mermaid with eye outbreak. Or is it her eyeball collection?

taken from perezishmael on Flickr

7am, Saturday morning, Central Park

Saturday mornings are a big day in Central Park for dogs.

From 7am-9am there are dogs everywhere roaming around off-leash running around and playing with each other.
Emma and her friends meet every Saturday morning for a play session.

Music in video is "Side Long Harem" by Roby J.C. Sound


7am Saturday morning, Central Park from Chantal Sunita on Vimeo.

The Red Wall

We are the cast of "Fun With Wigs". We will be back with more wig silliness - coming soon!!

Eating & Playing w/Emma

Around the house with Emma. We like to eat and play.

Trip to Roosevelt Island

Sunday afternoon in Roosevelt Island. I enjoy taking the Tram Car over. You catch it from E.60th Street & 2nd Avenue. I think it's a very relaxing and scenic ride.

Friends of mine live over there and commute over to Manhattan on a daily basis. I think it's kinda fun - better than sitting in bumper to bumper traffic!

Click here for Tram Trivia

Song in the video is "Take Me To The River" by The Talking Heads.

Brushing Emma

Her fur is shedding and it is making her very itchy.
I like when she has no collar on. Makes my girl look wild & rugged :)

Song in the video is Led Zeppelin's "D'yer Mak'er".

Apple Store w/Emma, Part II

Part I is in the post below.
Really, what's wrong with us? We are always unsuccessful at shopping, much like our trip to Petco. People think we're the store security :( Are us cuties that scary? =\

Apple Store w/Emma, Part I

Hope we find what we are looking for!

Playing w/Emma In The Park

She loves this park! And she loves to play the stick-game! We have lots of fun together, Emma and I :) I love this picture of her all leashed up with the tulips. Dogs are not allowed off-leash, but we took a chance.

Press play to see my girl in action and turn your volume up.

Perlei Italian Restaurant, 2nd Ave @ E.71st Street

Lunch at Per Lei - fantastic! Elegant and chic vibe, gorgeous inside, tasty food, and attentive waiters. I just love the decor and whole vibe. A bit pricey, but worth it. Wear nice clothes.

NY Magazine Review
Zagat
Official Restaurant Site

Perlei
1347 2nd Avenue
70th & 71st, New York, NY 10021
(212) 439-9200

Music in this video is "Pop Art" by Rouge Rouge‎

Walk In The Park w/Emma

Emma and I go for our daily walk in Carl Schurz Park which is SO BEAUTIFUL with all the flowers and blossoming trees!!

Music is "Summer Fling" by Los Chicharrons.

Picking Up The New Portishead

Took a trip down to the Virgin Megga Store in Union Square

Shopping w/Emma @ Petco

They didn't have what she wanted.

Pool w/Jerome in the East Village

This guy obviously took some lessons.

Turkish Dinner w/Nina and Co.

Nina's Farewell Dinner

Nina is moving to Lisbon, Portugal. Now I have a friend to visit there.
Had dinner last night at a Turkish restaurant with some of my former co-workers / friends.

Sip Sak
928 2nd Ave (at E49th Street)
New York, NY 10022
(212) 583-1900
www.sip-sak.com

Turkish Tea w/ Yasemin

Yasemin explains Turkish Tea @ Sip Sak
She was very fun to interview.

Lovely 2 C U

My first few hours in New York. I took Emma for a walk in her neighbourhood (and my old neighbourhood), the lovely Upper East Side.

"Lovely 2 C U" - by Goldfrapp

My Best Friend

I miss her so much.

Intro to TravelJournalNetwork.com

More to follow about http://traveljournalnetwork.com/

I will be contributing to the "Cityscape" section of that site.
More details to follow...

Drive Thru Bank With Indira

This girl is so lazy.

Saturday Night Roller Skating

Scooter's Roller Palace

Saturday night fun with the gang. Great workout for your butt and legs. Ankur and I gave up on the Roller Skates and got Roller Blades instead. Fun & Fast times.



Opening photo and closing photo in the video are from
http://www.flickr.com/photos/eliselanger/2115519604/in/pool-rollerskating
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shimizu/815125987/in/pool-rollerskating
(respectively)

La Bamboche, French Patisserie, Toronto

4 Manor Road East Toronto Ontario
M4S 1P8 (Eglington station) Map
PHONE 416-481-6735
http://labamboche.ca/

Chocolate Mousse + Small Wedding Cake + Baguettes pictured below:

I ate delicious pastries from La Bamboche today. It's a French Patisserie in Toronto located by Eglington Subway station. Their pastries are a fusion of Japanese & French styled cakes and desserts. Our family knows the Chef Patissier and his assistant - they are exceptionally nice people and the Patisserie is very chic and trendy inside... not to mention all the delicious desserts displayed in the windows. I dare you not to buy one...do you have enough willpower? I dont :(

They also have a blog page so you can read more about them and see pix of the type of desserts they make.

Dinner @ Asian Legend

2 silly girls drive down to Asian Legend for dinner on the Easter Weekend.

Spring Fling @ The SkyDome

I will never get used to calling it "The Rogers Centre"
It will always be "The SkyDome" to me!