get together on juneteenth

 

greg and i began the day with a visit to minerva as kendall and aurélien are visiting friends on cape cod.

we then walked downtown to square diner to meet ron and andy for brunch. i took this photo because as we approached the turn off for the tunnel, a potent waft of linden blossoms pervaded the air! we think it came from the tree directly behind the tunnel sign. i love linden blossom season.

(i had buckwheat pancakes with fresh strawberries and maple syrup . . they were very good!)

for years i've been telling ron that patisserie lanciani (where we would go for pastries on west 4th street when working at listro associates on west 11th street) had moved to duane street and was now duane park patisserie. since we were only a few blocks away, we walked over. 

but, oh no, there was a closing sign on the door . . 

she's closing her wonderful bakery. the landlord found someone to pay more money and i think he broke her lease. i am so sad!!!! 

i can't believe we were finally here together and it was closed. but . . it was nice to show him the spot and to remember how much we've enjoyed her delicious cakes and pies. i'm not sure if she will open up another place.

after that sorry situation we walked to the federal houses on harrison street . . 

we admired the lovely secret garden areas . . 

it's a quaint spot in the midst of the big city.

we walked along the river and sat and talked awhile on a bench before heading home to our separate neighborhoods. 

greg and i visited minerva again to give her dinner . . 

and kendall sent a photo of the beautiful cape.

a grey and cold friday

 

friday morning i walked downtown to whole foods tribeca to meet ella mills, the owner of deliciously ella granola bars, cereal and the delicious hazelnut balls morgan always brings me from london. i also used to subscribe to her app for recipe ideas which was a lot of fun and they were all very good. we also visited her cafe in '22 when we were in london for morgan's graduation. (i had the most delicious vegan chocolate chip tahini muffin when there.) 

she had a good turn out even though the weather was a bit dreary and everyone enjoyed talking with her. she's very personable and even said i should say hi to morgan for her (after i told her about all the deliciously ella treats morgan brings me). her husband and two children were with her and the little ones enjoyed handing out promotional canvas bags to the fans waiting in line. they're such a sweet family.

walking home through the misty grey day . . 

saying hello to these two friends . . 

mr. frog and mr. bee (a tom otterness sculpture, seen here in 2014) . . 

another beautiful star magnolia (beginning to lose its petals already) . . 

such a foggy day!

i stopped at duane park patisserie for a hot cross bun which i've been craving for weeks (i also brought three home with me).

thankfully, the callery pear trees are very cheery on these cold grey days.

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in the evening i met ellen for a special salon chamber concert with one of her former students who plays the cello (he was in morgana's age group). we heard pieces by shostakovich, prokofiev, dvorák, messiaen, piazzolla and kodály along with the stories as to how they were composed:

"shostakovich stands against stalin's terror, prokofiev paints the chaos of red october, dvorák echoes a nation's search for identity, messiaen transcends the walls of a prisoner of war camp, piazzolla reinvents the tango as argentina teeters on collapse and kodály keeps hungarian tradition alive despite overwhelming suppression. each piece is a testament to the indomitable force of human expression in the face of adversity - a symphony of resistance, survival, and hope." 

apple season and a walk to a favorite cafe

 
at the green market this morning . . 

and they are so crisp, juicy and delicious!

we walked downtown to duane park patisserie . . 

work continues on the second big google building going up just south of houston street.

a building put up in . . 

1891 . .

finally at duane park patisserie . . 

we haven't visited since they reopened after renovating in june.

i tried their classic ring ding (which madeline, the chef, is well know for, and greg had an eclair.)

they added several more tables and a bar, and more savory lunch fare dishes.

walking home . . it was such a beautiful day with sunshine and a nice breeze.

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kathy sent a pic of toby who likes to sit in the window box, looking in at them.

penny park

greg and i made it out the door for an early morning bicycle ride  . .