by Chrysa Smith It's cold. It's gray. It's winter. And nothing helps us stay warm and keep the cheer better than a good man, a good friend, a good dog and some hearty, old-fashioned comfort food. And we're bringing it on (well, not the friend, man or dog---but glorious food).During the next few weeks of post-holiday/pre-spring blogging, we're covering some of the favorite staples of our winter pantries. And we're encouraging you to [...]
.by Chrysa Smith Once upon a time, in a faraway land, there lived a handsome prince and his beautiful, young princess. Their wedding was complete with horse-drawn carriages, the world's longest wedding gown train and worldwide telecasts in multiple languages. Souvenir chackas could be found in every cheesy gift shop, stories on every literary masterpiece at grocery checkout counters.No, I'm not talking about Shrek---that would be easy and happy. I'm speaking about the [...]
by Chrysa SmithA little over a century ago, O. Henry penned The Gift of the Magi. Of course, it's topical, because the story involves gift giving, true love and being cash poor.Interesting that it took about a hundred years for so many of us to understand, perhaps for the first time in a long time, what it's like to be faced with holiday gift-giving, on a more limited budget for the masses. Bah [...]
by Chrysa SmithQuick! Get thee to some culture!That's my cry after too many cold nights curled up on the couch with the sorry tales that make up our daily news-- and some of the mindless entertainment that makes up my television viewing (except for SingOff, and reruns of Seinfeld, Two and a Half Men, Spin City and Just Shoot Me). So it was with great delight and quick action that I sprang for [...]
by Chrysa SmithLet's face it. Unless you walk the labyrinth of concrete, glass and steel that is NYC on a daily basis, there's always something new. But what's new that I might be tempted to spend another $25 in parking to see? Eataly.That's right. It took a year of planning and a trip into NYC yesterday to catch the urban holiday spirit (it was wonderful!) with longtime friend and fellow 'middle ager' Carol. [...]
by Chrysa Smith One of the joys I don't intimately experience at Christmas is the presence of little children. With no young nieces or nephews, a son in college and (hopefully), no grandchildren (yet) for a few more years, I'm surrounded by adults. Even the poodles are now, officially canine adults--although their behavior is a bit suspect. So it is with great enjoyment and a little giggle that I can experience a stroll [...]
by Chrysa Smith Who is she, you ask? Well, I will tell you. She's a fondly-remembered Italian grandmother, who apparently was, a grand cook. Her name is on the menu of a very lovely Italian eatery in New Brunswick, New Jersey. An eatery that happens to sit a few steps from a lovely, little theater. First Things FirstIf you're looking for a special evening with an urban vibe, but don't relish the idea [...]
