Welcoming 2007 from Barcelona

¡Féliz Año Nuevo! Postcard for you from Barcelona, Spain!

(Click on photo to view slideshow)

Happy New Year! Joe and I hope 2007 will bring success, wealth, new relationships, and more memories that will last a lifetime (more weddings and babies!). It was a blessing to be back in California during the holidays. We love being back to spend time with our families, eating home made Korean food, devouring In-And-Out burgers, Baja Fresh burritos, and snacking on Rite-Aid chocolate malted crunch ice cream. Yes, yet another successful eat-a-thon :). And it continued when we came back to Europe to celebrate New Year's Eve...

Joe and I met our NY home girls Susan, Amy, Shirley, and there friend Jenny in Barcelona. Combining a trip and being able to spend New Year's Eve with a few of our best loved friends was a definite plus. And yes, Joe loves being the only boy in the group (tee hee).

It is always a treat to visit a city with beautiful architecture, art, and equally desirable food. We took 1 day to visit Montserrat (Benedict monk retreat in the mountains about 1 hour from the city) so missed a few things in the city. But even in such a short time, I became a fan of Antoni Gaudi, the famous Spanish architect that made Barcelona such eye-candy. Most of the photos you'll see in our album are of his buildings (i.e. Sagrada Familia, La Pedrera)

We spent New Year's Eve at a club/restaurant that had pretty amazing food considering it was a club :). Place was called 'Oven', in an industrial party of town that reminded me of Brooklyn/Dumbo (sigh - I miss NY). Dinner was so late (typical dinner time is no earlier than 9pm) that I took a short nap at the table from around 1am to 1:15am - Hahah. Joe serves as a pretty comfortable pillow.

A few things we learned...
* Catalan is a version of Spanish that is rooted in French so they have many phrases that sound exactly like French. Didn't want to confuse myself mixing up the little Mexican Spanish I know so didn't bother learning any Catalan :).
* Cava is the local sparkling wine/champagne in Spain. We toasted to the New Year with some cava. I like champagne better :).
* At midnight on New Year's Eve, people in Spain eat 12 grapes, 1 for every chime (assuming you are listening to the bell tower). It's near impossible to do this. I only was able to eat 9 grapes. They had seeds! This tradition started in Spain because one year when there was a big grape harvest, the king of Spain decided to give grapes to everybody to eat on New Year's Eve.
* There are a surprising number of Spaniards that know how to say 'Ne How' (Hello in Chinese :).

// Recommended List //
*Restaurants*
+ Bestial - Mediterranean style by the sea, Ramon Trias Fargas 2-4, 93.224.0407, or any restaurant from Grupo Tragaluz (i.e. Tragaluz, Agua, Moo, Negro/Rojo)
+ Oven - Club/Restaurant in the industrial part of Barcelona, Ramon Turro No. 126, Tel: 93.221.0602
+ Botafumeiro - Just order the seafood platter, C/ Mayor de Gracia, 81, Tel: 93.218.4230
+ Cal Pep - You will read about this restaurant in ever guide about Barcelona, but still worth going for the busy atmosphere, fresh eats, and humorous waiters, Plaça de les Olles, 8, Tel: 93.310.7961

*Bar/Club*
+ Club 13 - Cute, a great vibe, and good dance/hip hop beats and a chance to check out one of the main hang out areas in Barcelona, Placa Reial 13.

Sko y Joe en Madrid

Hola! Postcard for You :: Madrid (Fountain on Paseo del Prado)

(Click photo to view Madrid slideshow)

When you first arrive in the Barajas Airport in Madrid, you already know -- this city has got style and knows how to flaunt it. From the architecture, to the office furniture, to the restaurants, to the hotels -- Madrileños take pride in looking good while doing things with passion.

Unfortunately, I didn't even realize until it was too late that we were to spend our first Thanksgiving in Europe -- alone. Have been so busy with work it didn't dawn on me that I would be by myself on Thanksgiving wondering the streets of Madrid (Joe came to meet me on Friday morning). *sigh*. After missing turkey for a second -- I rallied my semi-head cold, my Canon 30D, and my tripod in search of some great night shots. If you need a good traveling tripod, I would highly recommend the Manfrotto 718SHB Bogen. It comes with a carrying bag and is sturdy enough to hold up my 17-85mm lensed camera when it's not windy. Thanks also to my family for keeping me company for 30 minutes on my mobile (my dad's cell phone was passed from person to person as they ate Thanksgiving lunch).

When Joe arrived (*yeah*), we moved into a larger suite room @ AC Hotel Cuzco. It was pretty darn sweet (check out photos in the set above). He complained after one time they kicked him to the Holiday Inn down the street due to overbooking. They responded by granting him VIP status and a free weekend in Madrid, which then turned into Sandy's birthday gift (thanks!).

What did we love about Madrid? Being able to see art you studied in Art History class (Goya, Velasquez, Miro, Picasso), being able to practice our beginner level Spanish, and the food!

Yes -- Joe and I have been taking private Spanish lessons at work since the beginning of this year. But since our teacher left, we've been lazy and skipped out on the past couple months. We arrived in Madrid in a rather confused state. The taxi drivers don't speak English that well, so you have to muddle your way through a sentence. "Mi dinero es en el trunko (pointing to trunk of car)". So horrible. I just think it's awesome how everyone there speaks to you in Spanish assuming you understand everything they say. Hehe. If they get a sense you don't, they will ask "No entiendas?" (You don't understand?) At least, I knew what that meant.

We were lucky to be able to hang out with some locals there. The first night we scoured the city for a good restaurant that allowed smoking inside. If they didn't let you smoke, we could absolutely NOT eat there. It's pretty black or white there. The restaurant allows smoking or is non-smoking. Which makes sense to me. Even if you have a smoking/non-smoking section, the smoke still wonders through the restaurant. Duh.

The second night, Mylene's brother Jeff took us too his favorite tapas bar in Madrid called La Castela. Some gambas (shrimp), clams, hamon, foie gras on toast, and rioja. Yum! At all the tapas bars, people throw there garbage on the floor -- napkins, what is left of your shellfish and more! It's quite a freeing experience. One less thing to worry about -- just have a good time! The place comes with quirky waiters (one looks like Mr. Bean) that come quick with good service complete with a smile and a joke.

As soon as we started to discover the nooks and crannies of the city and our Spanish was getting better, we had to leave. Would definitely go back to visit again for some fine (and fun) dining. Listening to some Paulina Rubio this week at work to keep me amped. Remember her? Also picked up some random top of the chart albums in Madrid: David Bisbal and Alejandro Sanz.

As always, I'll leave our recommendations below. Adios amigos!
****
// Recommended City Guide //
Wallpaper* City Guide to Madrid -- Get the latest and greatest about hot restaurants, shops, art and local favorites. I'm gonna start collecting these for every city I go to.
AA Map & Guide to Madrid, Top 25 Sights -- It was perfect for a weekend trip, includes a great list of restaurants which are not touristy at all and were truly a treat to eat at.
Conde Naste Traveler -- All the poshy restaurants, shops, nightlife, etc.

// Recommended Restaurants //
La Castela -- Calle Castelo 22, Metro: Ibiza or Principe de Vergara (Red Line). Local favorite tapas place which has great seafood and great service.
Casa D'a Troya -- Emiliano Barral 14, Metro:Avenida la Paz. This family run restaurant is worth leaving the center of the city for. They have fresh seafood shipped from the North of Spain everyday. We sat next to the President of Konica Madrid who dines there weekly with his family and grand kids. You must order pulpo a la Gallega (octopus) and merluza especial pincho (white fish from North of Spain).
Cafe Arola -- If you are going to visit the Reina Sofia Museum, stop by here for lunch (it's inside the extension to the museum). It's visually stunning place to see, and food is enjoyable. Make reservations!
Olsen -- Calle del Prado 15. You would think a Scandinavian restaurant in Madrid would be out of place, but this place serves up some great fish dishes. Come here if you want a break from hamon and chorizo :).

// Recommended Shopping //
Custo -- For those who like something a bit different and more colorful. You may find some good girls stuff, but Joe certainly didn't think graffiti covered tshirts were his thing :).
Hoss Intropia -- Reminds me a bit of Anthropologie. Cute, cute, cute!
Cacao Sampaka -- Calle de Orellana 4, Metro: Alonso Martinez. Yummy and cute chocolate store with a great cafe in the back of the store.
El Corte Ingles -- Well stocked department store. Don't worry about not finding on of these. There are 19 locations around Madrid. I was able to find things I couldn't find in a New York Bloomingdales. Picked up a few new Top 40 Spanish albums to diversify my iPod.
Shopping Streets -- Fuen Carral, Serrano, Jose Ortega y Gasset, Hortaleza, Almirante, Piamonte, and around Puerta del Sol.
Other Spanish Brands -- Purificacion Garcia, Loewe, Camper

// Recommended Hotel //
Vincci Soho -- www.vinccihoteles.com. We didn't stay here, but it was recommended to me and we happen to walk right by it. Great location in the middle of the center of the city, within walking distance of some great tapas bars and restaurants (Olsen). Very close to the Prado Museum.

Copenhagen

Postcard for You :: Royal Yacht of Denmark

(Click on photo to view slide show)

We just came back from spending out 'bank holiday' in Copenhagen, Denmark - home of Hans Christian Andersen (tid bit of the trip). I have to admit I wasn't super excited about this trip, but Joe convinced me to spent the weekend there since he had to be there for business this week anyway. It was a nice relaxing trip. As you can see from the grey skies above, it was a on again - off again rainy weekend sprinkled with a bit of sunshine. We were trapped in our hotel room (aka Joe's dorm room because it was so small) for large parts of the day due to rain, so lots of time to nap and rest from the long hours at the office recently.

We made it to Tivoli Gardens, the large attraction in Copenhagen. Kinda like Disneyland to Anaheim, except Tivoli is much easier to absorb. It's small :). We took a spin on the spinning swing ride for about 6 euro each, felt a little dizzy, threw some wooden balls at hanging plates, shot some hoops, and called it a day. Having fun is expensive wherever you go these days!

My favorite part was the shopping in Denmark. Did you know that sko means 'shoe' in Danish?! It was so meant to be -- me and shoe shopping :). Ended up finding a fab pair of chocolate brown leather boots at Brints for a very good deal. Got a bunch of cute tops and introduced Joe to Flippa K, a Swedish designer. Will leave a list of designers to check out below.

There was also an awesome photograph exhibition on Steve Bloom's Spirit of the Wild book. I have never seen such vivid and lively photos of wild life. Definitely a fan. I wanted to get the book 'Untamed' but they sold out. Poo. Here's a pretty need video of him planning his photo projects: http://www.stevebloom.com/pages/movie.html

Hope everyone is enjoying every last bit of summer! It's fading so fast -- so sad. To our lovely friends in New York City -- See you this weekend!!


::Recommended List for Copenhagen::
~Shopping~
Illum -- Østergade 52 (Strøget). All the Danish/Swedish designers all in one department store.
Brints Sko -- Kronprinsensgade 9, or Gammerltorve 8. Cute shoe store. I bought a pair of great leather boots here for a great deal :).
Flippa K -- In Illum and many other locations. It's like a high end Gap with a little edge. Originally from Sweden.
By Malene Birger -- Antonigade 6. +45 33 26 96 30. Unique sophisticated styles. Great tops :).

~Restaurants~
Cafe Ketchup -- Actually quite a nice restaurant. Only association with ketchup is the spicy ketchup they serve with the bread. There is one location inside Tivoli.
Umami -- Store Kongensgade 59, +45 33 38 75 00. Decent sushi and great drinks (try the ginger passion fruit martini). But don't order the meat there. They say it's like kobe but from New Zealand (I say not!)
Cafe Dan Turell -- Store Regnegade 3, +45 33 14 10 47. Yummy club sandwich, large portions.
Wokshop Cantina -- Ny Adelgade 6. +45 33 91 61 21. Small Thai restaurant. Great place for a quick bite.

~Restaurants I Want to Try~
(There are 10 Michelin-starred restaurants in the small city!)
The Paul -- Vesterbrogade 3. +45 33 75 0775. Danish and international gourmet food. Bill Clinton dined there during his last visit to Copenhagen. One Star.
Noma -- Strandgade 93. Food is based exclusively on Scandinavian ingredients. One star and rising star.

~Hotels~
Front -- Common areas look like they are designed by Anna Sui (all black and fuchsia), comfy beds, and free mini bar!
The Square -- Good location to downtown and Tivoli, but very small rooms.

~Sites~
Tivoli -- Open in the summer only, amusement park with lots of yummy restaurants.
Canal Tour -- Take a boat up the river to see the Little Mermaid statue, the opera house, the royal yacht, the marble church, etc!

Greece

Ya-Sas! (Hello! in Greek)

(Click on photo to view full set of photos from Greece trip)

A guilty feeling came over me when posting these Greece photos. Many of our friends have gone to Greece or are planning to go to Greece for they honeymoon, yet Joe and I are flying around Europe gallivanting and continuously haunted by the fact we have not chosen our wedding location (we don't even know what city!).

Well for those of you that are going soon, hope the photos get you super excited for your trip. I was snapping away obsessively again. I'll leave a short recommended list at the bottom for your to take along with you :).

~ Athens ~

It was a short stay in Athens, but we ran through the city and over again in a day in a half in no problem. Totally recommend bumming out the first day you get there to roam the touristy shops and get your fill of souvenirs (Joe and I are now obsessed with finding the best magnet from every city). The Plaka district is an ideal location to crash as it's very close to the Acropolis, Parliament, National Gardens, direct metro link to the port (where you will most likely take a ferry from), and lots of shopping! I must be born to shop :) Left Athens with loads of olive oil soap, olive oil shampoo, and a few pairs of sandals.

~ Mykonos ~

It was a great relief to leave for islands. We welcomed the island breeze with open arms. Definitely buy your ferry tickets ahead of time during high season because they can sell out and don't leave that frequently. And is it sooo worth it to try to get on a fastboat. Those things are turbo charged and comfy.

We luved luved luved our hotel in Mykonos (see lots of pics in set above). The island was the priciest and the most touristy of our Greek destinations, but they had some great resort/hotels and restaurants. The restaurants are all very romantic. There was one called Interni that we thought would be perfect for our wedding. If only we could find a replica of it closer to home :). Make sure to make reservations because you will often get a better table.

It's best to stay near the Mykonos Town where you can easily catch a bus or taxi to get to your beach of choice. Lots of partying in this island. You can catch a bus to Paradise beach in the evening (ever watch MTV Spring Break?), or stay in town to hang out at Little Venice where there are a plethora of bars and clubs. Don't worry about not knowing where the parties are. It's pretty easy to find out. Posters plastered everywhere around time, and my favorite were the Paradise Beach party promoters that dressed up in different outfits for each party there were throwing out fliers for. Sailors one night, and a group of angels the next. They were a fun bunch.

Note: If you are a straight guy and get invited to go to Super Paradise Beach to party, uh - politely decline :).

~ Santorini ~

We met up with one of my college roommates (Jen) and her law school friend (Alice) in Santorini. Stayed in Perissa Beach a ways off from Fira (the main town), but we were quite content just relaxing in the evening and watching falling stars on the beach. If you really wanted to get the whole experience, would try to stay in a caldera in the town Ia (white houses built on the cliffs). But it has to have an infiniti pool out towards the sea and a private terrace where you can have breakfast (we saw a few of those and they looked so pimp!). This island had the most variety when it comes to beaches -- black, red, white beaches. There were a few 'oops did I just see a naked man' beaches that we came about so beware :).

We actually found a random Mexican restaurant in Santorini called Senor Zorba's (on the way to Fira from the southern part of the island). A great view -- get a pitcher of sangria and enjoy the sunset -- but avoid the burritos and enchiladas! Joe (who thinks he is half Mexican), loudly proclaimed that his enchilada tasted like it was covered in 'curry from a box'. It thought the guacamole was not bad :).

P.S. Bring your swimming goggles! Swimming in the sea is like swimming in a fish tank. It's so clear and refreshing you'll want to do it every day!

*Other Photos*

//London Triathlon//	//Chelsea Garden//

*Upcoming Travel*
+ Last week of August: Copenhagen (Joe)
+ September 1st through 10th: New York
+ September 30 through October 9th: Northern California

--
*Greece Recommended List*
~ Restaurants ~
+ Interni (Mykonos) - Matoyiannia, Mykonos. Tel: +30 22890 26.333. Modern Greek set in a romantic white atmosphere
+ Philippi (Mykonos) - Fresh ingredients used from Philippi's farm. Make reservations to get a table in the garden. (contact info coming soon)

~ Hotel ~
+ Tharroe of Mykonos (Mykonos) - Great staff. Try to get a room with a view of the sea.

~ Shops ~
+ Lak - 5 Matoyianni St, Mykonos. Comfy t-shirts in interesting cuts.
+ Stavros Melissinos - 2 Aghias Theklas Street, Athens. Get hand made sandals at the same place that the Beatles and Jackie-O did :).
+ Korres - Natural products for face and body (no synthetic oils or propylene glycol). I have seen there stuff in US and UK, but didn't know they were a Greek brand. Bought some body lotion, body lotion, and leave-in conditioner which have worked real well so far :).
+ Any jewelry store in Santorini - Pick up a cute necklace or a pair of earrings made out of lava rock (there is a volcano off the coast of Santorini). I know it's kind of a Hawaiin thing, but the really have some really cute and different stuff!

~ Artists ~
+ Yorgos Kypris - You'll see his stuff in galleries all over Athens and the islands. Most of his pieces are made up fish. One of my favorites is a wall installation of a school of stainless steel fishes.

~ Beaches ~
+ Paranga Beach (Mykonos)
+ Elia (Mykonos)
+ Red Beach (Santorini)
+ Kamari Beach (Santorini)
+ Perissa Beach (Santorini)

Summer in Stockholm

LONDON //


(click photo above to view all
photos from london in June)

Summer has finally decided to arrive in London, and then fade away just as quickly (I wore my rain coat to work today, booooo). Our group of friends, which we have dubbed the 'london transplants', where able to spend a few days out in the park - soaking as much sun as possible, practicing our frisbee skills, patching together a quite impressive picnic, allowing the trigger happy folks (photographers) get there fix, enjoying the Lobsterfest at Belgo's, watching sheep get herded across the Millennium Bridge...

Enjoying a summer concert, some Brazilian flare: Joined a co-worker of mine last night to go to Gilberto Gil live in concert on his 64th birthday. It was amazing to see such a legendary musician (as famous as John Lennon and Paul McCartney) rock out on stage at his age with such energy and passion for music. I'm definitely singing this on my birthday, just as Gilberto did on his.

And among the other things I'm beginning to think you can only see/do in London. Some of my favorite photos this month:

Shameless Plug on Summer Blockbuster: Go see Fast and the Furious this summer. Joe's friend, Brian Tee, is the main bad guy who plays a Japanese gangsta/racer (aka the 'Drift King'). I actually thought it was quite entertaining :).


STOCKHOLM //


(click photo above to view
all photos from Stockholm)

Joe and I just got back from Stockholm - My first time, Joe's 3rd. It was Midsummer in Sweden. For explanation on what that is click the link to Wikipedia. But really - it's a time for everyone to not work, back your bags, and head to your summer house most likely located on one of the islands in the archipelagos of Sweden. The days are long (night lasts for about 3-4 hours), the people are gorgeous (blond hair, blue eyes), and the city is breathtaking (surrounded by harbors, islands, bridges, and bright colored buildings).

Food-wise, it's easy to get 'fished-out'. Even though seafood here is very fresh, we did get sick of eating shrimp, lobster, salmon or some other kind of fish for lunch/dinner. However, we was never tired of our morning kanebulle (there version of a cinnamon roll) and latte. Also, had a chance to have reindeer again at Fem Sma Hus (traditional Swedish restaurant).

We were lucky enough to stay at some great hotels during the week. Will leave a recommended list at the end just in case anyone visits. I'm sure all hotels have this in the Nordics, but it is essential to have some good heavy curtains. Else you find yourself awakened by the sunrise as 3am (no joke!). I went to sleep at 230am one night and saw the sky start to get brighter, it was a slightly weird feeling (reminder of when I was young and able to party to 6am).

Eriksdalsbadet would definitely be on Joe's recommended list. It's his unattainable utopia, or a dream for any city folks. A 50 meter swimming pool that is outside - amazing. You don't get anything better that 25 meters in London or New York, let alone have it be outside! We spent a couple morning here - Joe swimming 3000m, and me splashing about and going to lay out in the sun. :)

Joe and I decided not too be lame Saturday night (Friday night we stayed in and watched a few episodes of 24 after 5 naps), and headed out to find a party. We ended up at Cafe Opera for some good strong drinks and good old school dance music (all from America of course). Strangely enough Joe's friend who was in Stockholm on business. Is it a small world? Or does Joe just know everyone on this planet? :)

One of our favorite sites was the Vasa Museum, where you can see a salvaged war ship from the 1600s that sank on it's maiden voyage of the coast of Sweden. Seemed a bit funny that they were displaying a ship that was designed by the King of Sweden to be a symbol of the greatest strength/power, but it turned out to be a complete failure. None the less it was like we were seeing the ship used in Pirates of the Caribbean, but this was one real.

We also got the chance to see works by Paul McCarthy (not Paul McCartney) at the Modern Museum, who I only recognized because of Ian (Joe's artist brother in law). He is one of the most influential artists of his generation - Joe and I kinda stared at all the art work with 'I can't believe or understand what I'm seeing' look on our face. Crazy stuff.

Not many stores were open, but we did happen to stroll into a few. One find, which I think you will all get a kick out of, was at a store called 'Stockhome' (get it?). Don't know what they were thinking when they designed these toys. Meet Pee and Poo...

Hahhaa. Read the description on the back of the box :).

STOCKHOLM RECOMMENDED //
*Hotel*
Sheraton Stockholm Hotels & Towers - 5* hotel with Huge rooms, very very comfortable beds and a great view.
The Diplomat - Walking distance to center of the city and right in front of the harbor where boats depart to the archipelagos.

*Food*
Fem Sma Hus - Traditional Swedish restaurant in the heart of old town. Great food and atmosphere, but a bit on the pricey side.
Ulla Winbladh - Go for the Swedish meatballs
T/Bar - Restaurant at Diplomat hotel has great fish dishes

*Bar/Club*
Cafe Opera - Good location by the water and good strong drinks.
Strand Bryggan - Bar/Restaurant on the river with comfy coaches and right next to the bridge that crosses to Skagen.

Recommended List: New York City

FOOD
DB - Drop By, No reservations needed
NR - No reservations, but worth the wait
MRWA - Make reservations way ahead, at least 1 week
CS - Chill spot, casual and fun
PS - Posh spot, fun to people watch

::Brunch::
Clinton Street Baking Company - http://www.clintonstreetbaking.com, 4 Clinton Street, btw. East Houston & Stanton (Must Try: pancakes, muffins or biscuits) -- NR, CS
Sarah Beth's - http://www.sarabeth.com (A few locations and always widely popular on the weekends) -- PS, NR
Petite Abeille - 107 W. 18th St. btw. 6th and 7th Ave. (Must Try: Belgian waffles, eggs benedict with salmon) -- CS, NR
Five Points - 31 Great Jones St. btw. Lafayette St. and Bowery, 212-253-5700. (You can actually make reservations here! A bit on the fancier side, but the restaurant has a great vibe.) -- MRWA
Balthazar - 80 Spring St. btw. Crosby and Broadway, 212-965-1785. French bistro serves most buttery yet delicious scrambled eggs I have ever tasted. Only place I've seen fellow diners eat muscles and oyesters for brunch. -- PS, MRWA

::Steak/Meat::
Strip House - 13 E. 12th St. btw. University Pl. and Fifth Ave., 212-328-0000 (Expensive, but luv the ambiance, and luv luv luv the creamed spinach) -- MRWA, PS
Peter Lugar - http://www.peterluger.com, 178 Broadway, Brooklyn. 718-387-7400 (Sizzling steak on a platter, worth the trek to Brooklyn) -- MRWA
Blue Smoke - 116 E. 27th St. btn. Park and Lexington Aves., 212-447-7733 (Awesome ribs, fried chicken and macaroni and cheese!) -- MRWA

::Burgers::
J.G. Melon - 1291 Third Ave. at 74th St., 212-744-0585 (The good greasy burger) -- DB
Rare - 303 Lexington Ave, Shelburne Hotel-corner 37th St., 212-481-1999 (Expensive, but they have creative burgers) -- DB
Shake Shack - Madison Square Park at 23rd St., 212-889-6600 (Great hangout for the summer, located in the middle of park) -- DB, CS
Burger Joint - 118 W. 57th St., inside Le Parker Meridian Hotel -- DB, CS
DB Bistro Moderne - 55 W. 44th St. btn. Ave of Americas and 5th Ave. (featuring a $29 burger stuffed with truffles and foie gras) -- PS
Spotted Pig - http://www.thespottedpig.com, 314 West 11th St. @ Greenwich St. 212-620-0393 (West Village Gastropub with quality food overall) -- CS

::Pizza::
Grimaldi's Pizza is worth the trek to Brooklyn. If you go there, definitely try out the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory located on the promenade near the water/under Brooklyn Bridge.
http://www.grimaldis.com, 19 Old Fulton St. under the Brooklyn Bridge -- DB, CS

::Sushi::
Tomoe Sushi - 172 Thompson St. btn. Houston Street and Bleecker Street (always a line, but worth the wait) -- NR
Gari - 370 Columbus Ave. near 77th St., 212-362-4816 (Sushi so good they don't serve it with soy sauce) -- MRWA, PS
Jewel Bako - 68 Prince St. btn. 2nd and 3rd Ave. (Tiny place so best to go on a weekday)
Blue Ribbon Sushi - 119 Sullivan St. btn. Prince and Spring (More expensive, but yummy and of course it's in Soho so fun as well) -- NR, PS
Sushi Yasuda - 204 East 43rd St btn. 2nd and 3rd Ave. (Very fresh fish and great sushi rice make the perfect sushi)

::Japanese::
Ippudo - 65 4th Ave. at E. 10th St. (Best ramen broth ever! And the chicken wings are yum! Be warned wait time around dinner could be up to 1 hour) -- NR
Sobaya - 229 E 9th St. btn. 9th Street and 10th Street, 212-533-6966 (Fresh hot or cold soba noodles made here) -- CS
Momofuku - 171 1st Ave. btw. 10th and 11th St. (Noodle bar, but you have to get the steamed buns with chicken or pork!)
Aburiya Kinnosuke - 213 E. 45th St. btn. 2nd and 3rd Ave., 212-867-5454 (Features the robata grill. Order grapefruit soju cocktails, the giant chicken meatball, and the freshly-made tofu. Everything we tried was good here! Party 4 and up get a private room.)

::Seafood::
Blue Water Grill - 31 Union Square West (Get a table inside the restaurant that looks out onto the patio on a summer night, or downstairs in the jazz room) -- MRWA, PS

::Sweets::
Beard Papa's - Multiple locations: Inside Cafe Zaiya @41st and Madison, Broadway btn. W 76th and 77th St., Broadway btn 8th St. and Astor Pl. (Greatest cream puffs ever! Originating from Japan) -- CS, DB
ChikaLicious Dessert Bar - E 10th St. and 2nd Ave (Different desserts every day of the week. Don't go too late because they may sell out!) -- NR
Veniero's Pasticceria & Caffe - E. 11 St. between 1st and 2nd Ave (Must Try: Cannolies, just order at the counter and take it to go)
Blue Ribbon Bakery -- 35 Downing St. at Bedford St., 212-337-0404 (Dinner place, but I luv the dessert here, i.e. chocolate chip bread pudding. Arrive before 7pm on weekends, or else it's hard to get a table) -- NR, PS

::Other::
Mexicana Mama - 525 Hudson St., between Charles and W. 10th Sts., 212-924-4119 (Yummy spin on Mexican food, very flavorful) -- NR
Congee Village - 100 Allen St. (Yummy Chinese food, satisfies the craving) -- DB
Hampton Chutney Co. - 68 Prince St. at Crosby St. (Stop here for a snap after shopping all day in Soho) -- DB
Nicky's Vietnamese Sandwiches - 150 E. 2nd St. and Ave. A (We used to stop by here every Saturday for lunch. Fresh toasted baguettes make the sandwich!) -- DB, CS
Russ and Daughters - http://www.russanddaughters.com, 179 E Houston St. btn. Allen Street and Orchard Street (Pick up some licorice from Australia and sweetened dried mango)
Po - 31 Cornelia St. between Bleeker and W. 4th Sts., 212-645-2189 (Splended Italian in a cozy place. I had the best gnocci ever at this restaurant.)
Cafe Habana - 17 Prince St. at Elizabeth St., 212-625-2002 (Latin American; Don't miss the grilled corn!) -- NR

::Special Occasion::
Cru - 24 Fifth Ave. at 9th St. -- MRWA
Gramercy Tavern - 42 E. 20th St. between Broadway and Park Ave. South, 212-477-0777 (Love the service here, and the free treats in between courses is delightful) -- MRWA
Mas Farmhouse - 39 Downing Street, 212-255-1790 (Expensive French-American open late. Excellent spoil you service. Definitely for the foodie in you!)

I 'Heart' Helsinki

Remember to make your donations: www.justgiving.com/Google3PeaksChallenge (Thanks Shirley, Esther, and Tran!)
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Joe and I both came back with "I 'heart' Finland" t-shirts (heart designed with the Finnish flag). I have to say we were not sure what to expect, and I asked myself why we planned a trip to visit a place that was even more frigid than London; but we left with a very positive impression of the city and it's people -- and we definitely came back full (ate a lot!).

Walking around, it's hard to imagine that such a small and quiet city once hosted the Olympics. I guess it didn't help that we were visiting during Easter, so a majority of the stores were all closed except for Saturday. And I would emphasize the word 'day', because when night came -- it was a different story.

Finnish people are avid party-ers to say the least (might have something to do with the long winter nights, and long summer days). All clubs close at 4am. Thanks to our friends Steve and Lisa, we were able to hit up some top spots re-viving some of Joe's dance moves from his early 20's :). Finnish peppermint liqueur shots (100 proof) and Montecristo cigars (Cubans) spiced things up a bit. The first time I heard 'Suomi Pop' (Suomi = Finland in Finnish) was at Onnela, a big club among the many in Finland. The high energy dance tunes (sung in Finnish or course) charges-up the locals to dance on wooden benches and tables. They installed bars bolted to the ceilings to prevent the somewhat intoxicated youngsters from falling off the tables, which works for the humans - but not glass cups or bottles. You can honestly hear a glass breaking every 5 minutes, but no one seems to mind.

On Easter Saturday, we gathered with many of the locals for a bonfire on the island of Seurasaari. The children dressed up in costumes and sang children songs while they burned this enormous mountain of pine. We didn't really understand the significance of the event (unfortunately), but did enjoy the walk through the island, some great turkey sausages, and a splendid sunset over a frozen bay. Funny enough, it was mating season for the mallard ducks so parts of the island were fluttering with males competing for female ducks. We dubbed it 'Club Heslinki'.

The best part of the trip was exploring Suomenlinna, five interconnected islands home to a sea fortress erected to protect the city from a Russian invasion. It was mesmerizing to see our ferry charge through the still somewhat frozen sea, sometimes breaking through 10 inch thick chunks of ice that you could probably stand on.

Food-wise, Finland loves there meat! Reindeer and bear were popular menu items and were popular amongst our group of adventurous friends. And boy oh boy do they know how to cook potatoes and make some delicious bread. Joe and I think the bread may be comparable (and maybe a bit better) to the bread in France. We would walk into a seemingly dingy cafe and have the best ciabatta sandwich ever! Since Russia borders Finland, there are a few Russian restaurants around the city. I was very excited to try a blini, a salty pancake drizzled with butter and eaten with caviar, chopped onions, sour cream, egg white and egg yoke bits. Yum!!

The Finnish language is a funny thing. They played English movies on TV (phew) with Finnish sub-titles. Joe and I came to the conclusion that because Finnish words were so long and convoluted, they couldn't dub Finnish over English movies because the timing would be entirely off. It would take them twice as long to say everything :).

Other Finnish things I luved: Moomin (Finnish cartoon), Karl Fazer chocolate, Marimekko (great textile designs), Temppellaukio Kirkko (church made out of a hill of rock).

(Click photo to view full set)

Kiitos! (Thank You in Finnish)

::Helsinki Recommended List:: (Just in case you ever happen to go :)
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Food:
Saslik - Neitsytpolku 12, tel: +359-09-7425-5500 (Russian, you must try a blini)
Savotta - Aleksanterinkatu 22, tel: +359-09-7425-5588 (Finnish, try bear or reindeer)
Kappeli - Etelaesplanadi 1, tel: +358-09-681-2440 (Finnish cafe/restaurant in an atrium setting)
MBar - Mannerheimintie 22024, tel: +358-09-6124-5420 (Cafe during day, bar at night)

Bar/Lounge:
Mecca - Korkeavuorenkatu 34, www.mecca.fi (Great DJ's and fancy food)
Studio 51 - Fredrikinkatu 51-53, +358-09-612-9900 (Busy dance club)
Onnela - Fredrikinkatu 48, www.ravintolaonnela.fi (Your chance to dance to some Finnish pop music, top 40, and some heavy metal all in the same club)

Hotel:
Crowne Plaza Helsinki - Mannerheimintie 50 (Short cab or tram ride away from the city center, and walking distance to a few museums and sites. Spa, sauna, and pool.)

Recommended List: Paris

:: Favorite Restaurants ::
NEW! La Cigale - 4, rue Récamier, 75007 - phone: 01.45.48.86.58. Book ahead! Amazing meat dishes and you must have the vanilla soufflé with rasberry sauce. Yummmmm.

Les Bouquinistes (French, Guy Savoy Bistro- 53 quai des Grands-Augustins, 75006 - phone: 01.43.25.45.94. Great scallops, let them pick your wine.

Le Baron (Middle Eastern) - Rue de Washington, across the way from the flagship LV store off of Champs-Élysées, blue store front. We randomly found this place last year and went back again because kababs are so yummy. What's different is they add potatoes and lots of peppers in with the meat, and grill the wrap for you so it's nice and toasty.

Georges (Modern European) - Centre Pompidou, 6th Floor - phone: 01.44.78.47.99. Posh and maybe even over the top, but worth a visit to get a great view of Paris without having to wait in line for the Eiffel Tower. Dinner is decent, but a bit overpriced. Would definitely come here for a drink in the summer.

L'Absinthe (French) - 24 Place de Marche Saint Honore, 75001 - phone: 01.49.26.90.04

Fuxia (Italian) - 42 Place de Marche Saint Honore, 75001 - phone: 01.42.61.45.46

Laduree (Macaroons and Tea) - 75 Avenue des Champs Elysees, 75008 - phone: 01.40.75.08.75

Higuma (Home-made Ramen) - 163 rue Saint-Honore, 75001 - phone: 01.58.62.49.22

Edokko (Sushi) - Next to Higuma

:: Hotel ::
NEW! Hotel Scribe - 1 rue Scribe, 75009. Managed by Sofitel with Sofitel quality beds and linens (soooo comfortable). Make time for the Lancome Spa located within, but only after you have visited the extensive list of shops in the area (Charles Jourdan, Printemps, Lafayette Galleria, shops at Place Vendome, etc.)

Hotel Madeleine Haussmann - 10 rue Pasquier 75008, Tel 01-65-90-11 (Plenty of space and a great location near place de Madeleine and walking distance to great shopping areas, about 15 minute walk from the Louvre.)

:: Shopping ::
NEW! Printemps - 64, Boulevard Haussmann, 75009 - Shopping galore! Even though there will be many distractions, try to make it up to the top of the 'Beauty/Maison' building to check out the view on the terrace. A great place to grab a snack and recharge for round 2 or 3 or 4... :)

Updated! Fauchon - 26 and 28-30 place de la Madeleine 75008 -- One of the best Parisian epiceries around. Pick up a tin of madeleines for home, and while you are get one from the bakery made fresh! When I went back in May 2007, they now have a cute cafe with hot pink chairs, tables, and umbrellas outside so you can enjoy an amazing mac & cheese with truffles and ham along with a green apple & vanilla juice - all beautifully packaged.

La Maison du Miel - 24 rue Vignon 75009 (The House of Honey where you can satisfy your sweet tooth)