It's finally done!

I was inspired by a light box. An old massive light box that i found at a stoop sale on 14th street.
See, originally i was looking for a lit sign for our apartment, but upon seeing this, i knew it could be something even more more original. I had a few ideas all centered around our flat name, Urban Disco - and knew the style and message i wanted to convey.

So i met with this beautiful artist, also known as my sister - and it just took off from there.


Artist at Work from Stephanie Hays on Vimeo.

Several iterations and one year later, we arrived at this very awesome, very telling, every original Urban Disco sign.

i then worked with a local printer to get it scaled to light box size and transferred on transparent paper. It was a very exciting process and what made it even more special is that the Artist was visiting when i went to approve the proof. So here we are, stayin' alive at the Urban Disco with this very large, bright and PERFECT sign of which we are still deciding on where to hang (thinking now the foyer versus the "create room"!).

And we couldn't be happier with it.

 

30 (something) Rock

Feliz Cumpeleanos Yahtzee

Yahtzee rocks at 30 Rock

Tell me, is it wrong to have your husband plan his own birthday night and then enjoy the hell out of it yourself?

We had so much fun, it was the best birthday EVER… well once we put the blackberry's away.  

Oh, the night included

Jimmy Fallon tickets - we even made it on national TV (though I fell asleep by the time the show was later that night)

AND

dinner at A Voce in Columbus Circle which incl a wonderful bottle of red and I wish i could remember what the heck it was

AND

Pinisi Bakery (they were out of pistachio cheesecake but choco mousse yummy too so Yahtzee, i forgive you this (smile))

Anyhoo, love you Cumpeleanos Hombre

(Dare i say my Spanish classes are paying off?)

The geburtie didn't end the weekend, it just kicked it off.

In between brunching with girls from dance class and shopping for nothing in particular and seeing my good friend in from Dubai (so good to see you girlie)

I have been working on perfecting my grilled cheese and may even be in the running for competition with little mama!

the winer is...

I been also been trying out some new lipstick shades and am a little in LOVE with this cotton candy pink

The red lipstick experiment of last year was only the start!

 oh, and took a stroll through the green market, though admittedly at NYC warp speed - 

not even stopping for Cider but long enough to snap a photo

 

The best part of waking up.

seedlings

Its early again, & this seems to be a theme several days running. Except I am back home, no more lying in bed listening to the sounds of the rain forest, just those of the concrete jungle.

I am thinking about my vacation and actually one of my favorite parts – visiting a coffee plantation Don Juan.

Here, we learned what a labor of love it is to get the perfect beans from seed to cup – so that we wake up every morning with a hug in a mug at our Urban Disco.

Yahtzee was fast bean picker

separating skin from bean

part of drying process

all roasted and ready to ship

I have even MUCHOIER muchos grande appreciation for my morning Joe. AND I may just be encouraged enough to splurge on my ninth street espresso beans again, despite my little picketing efforts after the prices of beans rose 15%!

we met the man himself -
Don Juan is 76 amos with 9 bambinos (& just 1 seniorita!)

Until next time Costa Rica!

 

Shhh. Quiet. Listen.

its 6 am...and this is beginning to be a theme here in costa rica.
I have been laying in bed for past hour listening to the rain fall, the birds chirping, i swear i can even hear the clouds as they roll on by.  I've now pulled up a chair for a front row seat onto this action here in the rainforest so I can take it all in. Its simply lovely. It really allows me to get lost in my thoughts.

Our guide in the cloud forest yesterday, Charlie, would have us take a moment from time to time to "listen" to the sounds of the forest - for monkeys moving tree to tree, birds chirping - and to look around, "there are eyes everywhere" he would say.

Charlie, on life in the forest & elsewhere

I liked these moments and think it as also good advice for life in general, including the concrete jungle I call home.  Also good advice would have been not to wear a skirt into the rain forest, i have skeeter bites everywhere & including my face.

We saw a wonderful little waterfall in the jungle too, with every turn here along the continental divide is something beautiful and wondrous.


There is even beauty to behold in these little ladies…

Man Eater

though i have to admit, i did a little "andele arriba" action after seeing her!

 

On taking pavement for granted….

Its 6 am and I cannot sleep. Nothing to do with jet lag or time zones, uncomfortable hotels or too much noise. It has to do with an aching body. 


Oh,  from ziplining, or horseback riding, or hiking through the forest - you ask.


No, i respond.  From an 80 mile car ride, from La Fortuna to Monte Verde.


We did not quite comprehend why an 80 mile ride would take 4 hours. We were told it would, but we were not believers. I guess we never dreamed that unpaved roads, and really not just unpaved roads but specked with potholes and tight bridges and cutouts, could go on for miles.  Upon arrival we were met with a snicker from a local who asked, "how was your travels? how was the roads?"


I had to respond it was a test for the body AND the relationship. But we made it alive. In retrospect, it was probably not a good idea to travel in darkness where you can't go more than 15 mph and houses are scarce, with our Gringomobile (see below, we all have them). But we arrived alive and had a very nice meal, a great day around the observatory and a memory of a drive that we will hold forever.


And in the spirit of Thanksgiving, i would like to say I am thankful for pavement.

Anyhoo, here are pictures from our hike yesterday that made the "too late in the day" travels worthwhile.

hanging bridges

Chasing Waterfalls

Laguna Arenal - huge man made lake w Volcano backdrop

Baldi Spa - this was a real local experience

…& random sitings, like horses tied up outside general stores

Today we go to a coffee plantation! and to learn more about the rain forest.
Hasta luego...

 

Hola

hasta luego Tamarindo - we loved the beautiful beach and the Costa Rican Ice Teas (wink wink)

Today we are exploring Volcan Arenal, whose last big explosion was May 2010 but still active!  Also hanging bridges, waterfalls and Lake Arenal (we rode around this last night on way here, roads were actually worse than Jersey!)

 

I am thankful

its thanksgiving, and i am spending it with my husband who I am most thankful for - and with whom every day is an adventure.  And this year, instead of traveling home, we have travelled together to visit a corner of the world that is new to us - costa rica.  the people here are charming, climate sunny & warm and we are wonderfully relaxed and well rested and spending lots of time together away from the bustle of the city, which i must say has been exactly what we needed.

Happy thanksgiving,

 

Piggy Hat Season!

Yes, it reads exactly as you think it reads.

Merry Christmas!

Hey, what's going on over there at the Disco?

Well, tonight the temperature started to drop, the rain began to fall, and I began to get excited

As soon as I got home I threw on the Piggy Hat, made a pot of coffee, got out the ink pads and stamps - and for the past few hours been listening to Counting Crows and RCHP as I make our holiday cards and do a little party planning

Dare I say it?

Here at Disco,

its beginning to look a little like christmas

…well Christmas Dasha and Yahtzee style anyway.

Piggy Hat = Creative Mood

The Gluhwein & Xmas Music come later along with the tree decorating and the stocking hanging and the smooches under the Mistletoe!

Just gearing up to the mood we were in Last Year when we were in full swing with Party Preparations and Hot Toddy's - but thats a week or two away still

 

Little Muenster doesn't hold a candle to Little Mama

We treated ourselves to a "super luxury" Grilled Cheese sandwich Monday night….I know, I know, only in New York.


But I was missing family and home and had a little craving for some home cooking.  This led to a late night Stella ride to Little Muensters in LES.


On a scale from 1-10, about a 5.


My Asiago and Muenster with sage brown butter on peasant bread didn't hold a candle to my Mama's Velveeta delight with a touch of Love on white bread and a cup of tomato soup - and it certainly didn't satisfy my homesickness.


Miss you little Mama!

 

Lucky in NYC

lucky charm

Life has been a bit hectic lately.

But i am still walking the streets of the city every day, and with each corner I turn, I am reminded of how lucky I am to live in a city that is as interesting and energizing as NYC, with such great variety and so much to do

Sometimes its the little things that make me love this city a lot


LIke the view from our window on a sunny fall day

Or a Creme Brûlée or Blackout at Doughnut Planet in Chelsea Hotel

And meeting people with a sense of humor, like the street vendor who has a make shift dressing room on the corner of Houston and Thompson - which also doubles as a SPA and cocktail lounge. 

We were told to come back for a party at 8

The view of the Freedom Tower as it goes up

How quickly a block can change from one end of the street to another

Fresh fish in Chinatown

The inspiration behind an entrepreneurs' big ideas

Knowing that preety, quiet, romantic, dreamy places are never too far away

Hudson River Valley

And the mere fact that people express themselves in all sorts of ways, even if I don't always agree

What makes you smile with every turn in your neighborhood,

And stop and count your lucky stars?