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We've just returned from a delightful holiday in Palm Beach:It was sunny, warm, and relaxing - so nice! I hope you and yours had a great Thanksgiving.

More tomorrow...

Monty Monday - Bring me, bring me!

We're looking forward to a few days of vacation in the sunshine this week.

I was packing up our suitcases today and learned that someone else really wanted to come on the trip:Monty was very eager to climb in my luggage... I think he wanted to show me how small he could get so that he'd easily fit in my carry-on:Soon he realized that we won't be taking him along -- boo hoo, the hotel isn't pet friendly -- and he gave me the saddest eyes ever:Awwwww, we wish we could bring along our little buddy.

The Museum Gala at AMNH

Last night we went to The Museum Gala at the American Museum of Natural History. I have fond memories of visiting this museum when I was a kid; it's always great fun to back as a grown-up.

Cocktail hour in the Theodore Roosevelt Rotunda:
The dinosaur skeletons are as giant as I remembered:
All smiles with Chappy during cocktails:
Many cast members of Saturday Night Live were at the benefit:
Dinner in the Hall of Ocean Life (aka the whale room):Tom Brokaw emceed the evening's program, Jimmy Fallon did a spot on impersonation of Tom Brokaw's emceeing (Tom was a good sport about it), and Jamie Niven auctioned off all kinds of neat items like an overnight stay in the museum for 10 kids/adults. All total, with benefit tickets, sponsorships, and auction items, they raised over 2 million(!) dollars last night - very impressive.

The highlight of the program was a performance by Dave Matthews:
I love his music, and happily listened to him sing Bartender, Gravedigger, and Crush. He told quirky stories and sang beautifully:I had a great time at the party.

And as an extra bonus, Lilly Pulitzer donated these pretty patterned stuffed animals to the goodie bags we all took home:American Museum of Natural History.

Fall Cleaning

I recently did some sorting, arranging, and cleaning in Chappy's closet. I'm a neatnik and *love* any kind of organizing, so I was happy to spend an afternoon tidying up...

Before:Not too bad, but I prefer it super orderly.

There's too much mixing and matching going on for this fastidious gal:
Jackets and slacks = not so organized here:
Lots of folding, some sorting, and a few hours later... Voila!:
Soooo much better:
Everything all arranged by style, color, and season:Chappy's clothes are nice and orderly now so my work here is done. Who's next?

Monty Monday - Hiding

Construction is just about done in our NY apartment, but apparently Monty has had it with the noise, upheaval, and workman at our place.

Last week he hid in Chappy's closet for an hour while the contractor hammered away in the other room:After all these renovations I'm about ready climb in there and hide with him!

Monty Monday - Friend of Frankie

Frankie's Friends is a charity dedicated to finding cures and saving pets with cancer and other catastrophic diseases.

Monty is thrilled that he's recently been listed as a 'friend of Frankie' on the foundation's website:Check out his entry here - yay Monty!

Frankie's Friends.

Yippie for the Yankees

Three cheers for the Yankees on their World Series victory last night!

We went to Game 1 of the series and had this spectacular view of the action:It was so much fun to go to a World Series game -- the energy, the intensity, and the cheers were non-stop. I can't imagine how loud and spirited it was at the stadium last night.

Yay for New York and big yay for the Yankees.

Happy Halloween

On Halloween we went to a super fun 'Pirates of Park Avenue' party.

Here's my pirate costume. Ayyyy matey:
Chappy went as a construction worker. He was very realistic and cute in his costume (although the reflective vest was quite, umm, reflective in all our photos):
Here I am later in the evening... I tried to look scary with my very lethal foam sword.Shiver me timbers!

I hope you and yours had a happy Halloween.

An Open Letter

Dear two-wheeled friends in my garage:I miss you!!!

Warmest regards, Mel

Park Avenue Potluck Celebrations - Pomegrante Mimosas

Pomegranate Mimosas

Makes 8 cocktails

2 cups pomegranate juice, chilled
6 ounces elderflower liqueur
1 bottle sparkling wine, chilled

Mix the pomegranate juice and elderflower liqueur in a pitcher. Add the sparkling wine. Pour into Champagne flutes or wine glasses and serve.These delightful Pomegranate Mimosas give champagne a fun, fruity kick. I love the cocktail's ruby color; this festive red makes them the perfect drink to serve at a holiday party. The recipe is simple and easy to make and absolutely delicious to drink -- cheers!

This recipe is from Park Avenue Potluck Celebrations, an awesome cookbook that benefits The Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. PAP Celebrations was just released today, so grab your copy here.

A special thanks to Kelsey at The Naptime Chef for passing along this great recipe.

Park Avenue Potluck Celebrations.

Monty Monday - Out of the Darkness walk

Yesterday was the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's 'Out of the Darkness' community walk in Manhattan. This is always a special day for a cause that's near to my heart -- I've been going to this walk for the better part of a decade to honor the memory of my friend L., and this was Monty's fourth year participating in the walk.

It was cold (39 degrees), windy (20+ mph), and wet on Sunday -- not the best day for an outdoor event, but the turnout was great, and the soggy weather didn't dampen anyone's spirits.

Grey day at the walk entrance:
Tents, ponchos, and hoodies at the registration area:
My hound braving the elements:
AFSP has these bead necklaces that participants can wear:Each color represents a different reason why you're walking. I took purple because I lost my friend L. to suicide, and Monty took blue because he supports the cause:
There was also a remembrance area where you could create a flyer to wear during the walk. It was so touching to look at the flyers pinned to the backs of other participants - some drew sweet pictures and other wrote the names of the loved ones they lost:
After the opening ceremony we were off in the rain:
The walk started in Chelsea and went up along the Hudson River and then snaked its way back down:
Monty was still perky and energetic after the walk:...but we all were pretty cold and damp.

Here's Monty in the car on the way home snuggling up to the heated seat warmer:We were both toasty warm in no time!

A special thanks to the Manhattan walk sponsors:And a huge thank you to all my readers/friends that donated to our walk -- it means so much to me to have your support for this important cause. You guys are the best.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

The Glass House - Part II

Part II of my visit to Philip Johnson's Glass House (part I is here)...

His dog's house:
The Brick House, the counterpart to the Glass House:This building was Philip Johnson's guest room, and it's not all brick -- there are 3 large round windows in the back and multiple skylights. Unfortunately the Brick House has water/mold damage so we weren't able to go in, but it's being restored and should be reopened in a few years.

The mixing bowl shaped swimming pool:
The Glass House, Brick House, and swimming pool:
The entrance to the Painting Gallery, built into a hill like a bunker:Giant (10' tall) canvases on display inside...

Frank Stella:
Andy Warhol's paintings of Philip Johnson:
Julian Schnabel:
Light and shadows inside the quirky, asymmetrical Sculpture Gallery:
Lovers in a Bed II by George Segal:
With Ronda on the steps inside the Sculpture Gallery:
Philip Johnson's study/office:
His desk and whimsical chairs:
Bookshelves galore:
A close-up of a shelf of his architectural books:
'Da Monsta' (the name is a nod to Philip Johnson's love of hip-hop), the funhouse-like visitor's pavilion:For more information on the Glass House please visit their website.

Jim Watkins honored by Westchester ARC

Last week we went to Westchester ARC's 6th annual benefit at Westchester Country Club. Westchester ARC is a terrific organization that serves children and adults who have developmental disabilities.

Our dear friend and WPIX news anchor Jim Watkins was honored at the benefit. Apart from being a talented newsman and an all-around great guy, Jim is the father of a special needs child. He and his wife Lauren are tireless advocates for autism awareness, and Chappy and I were so glad we could be there to see them being honored for all of their hard work.

Here I am with my favorite anchorman during cocktail hour:
And here's Jim giving his heartwarming speech:
He talked about the challenges and rewards that come with being the parent of a special needs child. They filmed snippets of the speech for the WPIX newscast:
The crowd was totally into it:
Westchester lawmakers gave Jim a fancy proclamation. He and Chappy looked it over:
Jim with Chappy (doing his best Vanna White), showing off the well-deserved proclamation:Way to go Jim and Lauren - keep up the great work!

For more information on Westchester ARC please visit their website.

For more on Jim please follow his Twitter (where he talks about giving Chappy a "man-hug") and check out his blog.