New York's multiculture - the 'Chindian' restaurant Chinese Mirch
The Multicultural Magic of New York City
New York is truly a magnet for multiple cultures; a veritable melting pot of communities, smells, languages and flavors. “Chinese Mirch” is a “Chindian” (for the uninitiatied, that means Chinese/Indian) restaurant, just blocks from my sister’s house. Her neighborhood, Murray Hill, is lovingly known as “Curry Hill”. See why More… »
The Story of Holi, with Legos!
An 8 year old retells the story of the origin of the Indian festival of Colors, Holi, with Lego creations. Colorful, contemporary twist to an ancient legend of how the festival came to be called Holi.
Suhail, the 8 year old, decided one morning recently, to combine his passion for legos and his great interest in Indian mythoglogy into a fun play about the Festival of Colors- Holi. More… »
Hollywood: A review of Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland
3.5 amaras
Outside Hollywood's Alice in Wonderland, with Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter
Tim Burton as director and Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter. I think that pretty much says it all. Or not. My sister and I had read very lukewarm reviews of the movie, as well as Johnny Depp’s performance. “Miscast” said the NY Times review. Well, we had our 3D IMAX tickets, and were going, gosh darn it. And boy, was it worth it. The movie is charming, well acted, great special effects, and although Johnny Depp’s delivery of the Mad Hatter was wonderful – he was almost touching in parts – the Queen of Hearts, played by Helena Bonham Carter, truly stole the show. With her big fat head and lisp, she was a delight to watch. The weak point for me was the White Queen, played More… »
Winners of the Oscar 2010- a quick snapshot:
How many of you will be lining up these movies in your Netflix queue? On my part, I will be watching Blind Side certainly. If not for the movie, it would be to watch Sandra Bullock, the actress. In a span of ten minutes last night, I went from blah to boom on the Bullockometer! I loved Sandra Bullock’s intelligence and wit which shone in her Oscar speech, especially her acceptance opener, ” Did I really earn this or did I just wear you all down?”. Her tribute to moms in her speech had me tearing up and I loved her for it. More… »
Another New York City Night out: a review of (Barber of Seville/”Il barbiere di Siviglia”) at the Metropolitan Opera
The Barber of Seville ("ll barbiere di Siviglia") at the Met
The Metropolitan Opera, New York
Night number 5 in New York. Sis had a work dinner, so I took myself off to the opera. The Barber of Seville (or “Il barbiere di Siviglia” for the discerning) is an opera buffa (comic), in two acts, written by Gioachino Rossini. It premiered in 1816 in Rome and More… »
A Night Out in New York!
Imagine my continued delight when I discovered that I could walk from the Glam Office to the West Village! A 25 minute walk through the Flatiron District, no wind, no rain, no snow….just a crisp pre-spring evening.
Vintage Bar Photo - says it all!
I passed a bar where I couldn’t resist the sign on the blackboard outside….it truly says it all! My sister and I ended up having drinks at the bar (mango sake cocktails, and white wine), then we strolled over to the famous Bleecker Street Pizza for New York style “slices” (several). A little dive, constantly busy, with fresh pizzas coming out of the oven at a rate enough to make your head spin!
Grom Gelato, New York ("Il Gelato Come Una Volta")
And no evening is complete without dessert. Since we decided to take a cab home, we induged in a cold treat- Gelato! More… »
Oscars 2010: A review of “Crazy Heart”
3.5 amaras After a small hiatus from watching Oscar-nominated movies, on my second night in NYC, we went to see “Crazy Heart”, with Jeff Bridges and Maggie Gyllenhaal. (I must add that my sister lives barely 2 blocks away from a theater, and en route are restaurants with any kind of food you could possibly want. No cars, no parking, no last minute pick up of McDonalds for want of anything better. Life in a big city!!!). Anyway, back to my review of the movie and its cast. Both have Oscar nominations, Bridges for Best Actor and Gyllenhaal for Best Supporting Actress. Both well deserved. Their performances were outstanding, in my view particularly Jeff Bridges, who plays a run down, some what has-been country musician who faces alcoholism and loneliness. Maggie Gyllenhaal plays the young, single mom reporter who is sent to interview him. Yes, I know, the story line does seem More… »
Avenue Q Musical Review
This AmaraMom is in NYC for the week, and thoroughly enjoying the break from driving, suburbia, husband, kids, dog, house (you get my drift; and not in that particular order, either 
). My sister and I heralded the evening of my arrival with, of course, a show. Avenue Q is a delightful, Tony award winning, long running, Off Broadway production. Using puppets. And people. It revolves around the story of Princeton, a bright-eyed college graduate who comes to the Big Apple with big dreams and a tiny bank account (provided by his parents, at that). He soon discovers that the only neighborhood he can afford is Avenue Q (a sort of grown up Sesame Street, if you will). More… »
A devastating 8.8 magnitude earthquake hit central Chile early Saturday morning. To donate, please send to well-know institutions like the International Red Cross, or Doctors Without Borders
AmaraDad at Stanford Holi 2009
AmaraKid at Stanford Holi 2009
AmaraParents at Stanford Holi 2009
AmaraKid at Stanford Holi 2009
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