Cloudy Wintery Day

After series of double digit subzero days, finally NYC gets slightly warmer days.
Well, we call 32 - 40 degree Fahrenheit, or 0 to 4 degree Celsius warm now after being hit by minus 20 C and colder.
It's obviously a new standard for us, Indonesians, who are so accustomed to tropical weather!

Anyway, as the temperature gets warmer, we have cloudy days.
And this Friday, I just went out to the UN Rose Garden before having an early meeting.

The rose garden was obviously missing all those colorful roses already as winter is coming
But the whole UN 'backyard' remains my favorite place.
The sky sure was cloudy but I loved the breeze.
This is something I can enjoy.

the gift from Russian, if I'm not mistaken

typical wintery scene :)

How's the weather in your knack of the wood?

Join us on Skywatch Friday and enjoy the magnificent sky wherever you are.

WW: Astoria and Midtown Manhattan After the Blizzard 2018

Wanna see Astoria and Midtown Manhattan after the blizzard?

Here we go.
Let's start with Astoria, particularly Astoria Park, our favorite spot.

It looks sunny and nice but it was minus 5 F at that time..super cold

And of course, we still had to clean the snow stuck on our car and the pathway behind the house. The kids really enjoyed doing it but we couldn't stay too long because it was too cold.

Right after Grayson storm on Thursday, we all were back to school and the office on Friday.
As expected, the streets were filled with piles of snow (some of them are obviously dirty)

You can see how Astoria and most probably the other parts of Queens look much nicer with clean, white snow pile, while Manhattan is the other way around.
Well, the City really tries to clean up all those snow so they did that right after the snow stopped.

Don't get me wrong.
The Department of Sanitation has done tremendous jobs indeed but it's just too much to handle all this mess at the same time for sure.

And I heard that we might have another round of blizzards and storms.
Embrace yourself, New York City.

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The Blizzard

Welcoming 2018 with a blizzard?
So New York City :).

This January, we had Grayson storm, or some say the #bombcyclone, saying hi to New York State and most of the Northeast parts of the country. I remember having this similar type of blizzard every year, but surely it's getting colder, and colder, and colder.

Read also: Welcoming Jonas 

Cold? super.
It went sub zero pretty quickly and the temperature plunged to around single digit Fahrenheit or two digit minus in Celcius. I am talking about up to minus 23 degree C real feel.
Painfully cold, at least for me and my New Yorkers here.
The sky is blue and the sun is shining, mind you, but the temperature is deadly cold.
Well, being an Indonesian, this double digit cold temperature is really disheartening.
Even after we spend 4 years in Geneve, Switzerland, with tons of snow surrounded by mountains, I never recall having cold days like this.

our car in the back of the house.

Kalau banyak teman-teman yang komentar di beberapa akun media sosialku pengen main salju di NYC, aku malah lagi sebel banget dengan winter kali ini.
Yah, bukannya ngga mau bersyukur masih merasakan cantiknya white December and January plus foto-foto lucu di salju yang memang magical plus ber-snow angel ria, tapi kalau dinginnya udah minus 2 digit seperti ini jadinya udah ngga lucu lagi. 
Mana karena dingin, setiap keluar rumah harus pakai banyak lapisan di badan, kaki, muka, dan kepala sampai ngga ada cantik-cantiknya lagi huahahaha #emangkapancantiknyaneng.
Belum lagi jalan yang harus super hati-hati (kalau kata Bo kayak grandma) kalau ngga mau jatuh karena black ice.
Duuuh jangan sampai!
Oya satu lagi...kalau winter dan dingin banget kayak sekarang, bawaannya makaaaaaan melulu.
SUPER GAWAT! karena timbangan memang sedang tidak bersahabat sejak 1 tahun terakhir ini.

Dan memang kalau sudah begini, rumput tetangga selalu terlihat lebih ungu hijau.
Lihat foto teman-teman dan juga suamiku yang sedang ada di Indonesia menikmati hangatnya matahari sambil berjemur di pantai rasanya  pengen ikutan buka baju dan lalu gemetar kedinginan.
Atau ngintip ceritanya neng Idah Ceris  bareng Jasmin yang asyik tracking di gunung plus piknik di tengah hutan asri sambil menikmati pesta budaya dan jajan tradisional pakai baju batik cantik. 
Tambah semangat kan megangin mangkok bakso plus pempek Lampung bawaan mama yang ngebul di dapur.

And this is our last winter in NYC. For now.
Idealnya kan saljunya banyak tapi matahari bersinar cerah, ngga pakai angin yang membekukan tulang dan hatimu, plus cuaca yang mentok di 10 derajat Celcius (jangan Farenheit, karena jadinya minus juga hehe). Jadi bisa foto syantik a la a la di berbagai sudut kota keyen ini kan. kan. kan.

Well, looks like that is NOT the case.

Jadi ya nikmati saja.
Sekali-kali boleh kan sebel sama salju yang aslinya cantik ini hehehe.
Juga dengan NYC, the greatest city on earth (kata banyak orang ya) saat ini yang cuacanya buat kuping dan pipi serasa hilang dan bikin bawaannya pengen makan melulu (timbanganku gusti >_<),  herannya tidak mengurangi nafsu menjajah segala winter sale di mana-mana dan bikin bokek instantly .
See, selalu habis gelap terbitlah terang. Ada kesenangan di balik penderitaan hahaha.
Selalu bersyukur diberi nikmat sehat oleh-Nya.

sekolah anak-anak pun tutup :)

Well, during the blizzard, we just stayed at home, cooked enough (if not a lot) food and binged with the kids, as the school was closed as well. We watched and listened (the wind was literally howling) to the snowflakes falling the sky, took a few pictures and cleaned up the pathway using my neighbors shovels, hand in hand with my hero of the day, Abang Bo :).
The usual ritual.

Blizzard is indeed no joke but if you are well prepared and you know what to do, then you are most likely will survive it!
I have shared some tips and tricks from an amateur blizzard-lover (if there is such thing) like me back in 2015, when my family and I experienced the first blizzard here in NYC.

Read also: Surviving #blizzardof2015

This year, we were not going to Astoria Park as it was super cold as well there obviously as the wind came from the East River.
Unlike January last year when we insanely went out in the middle of the blizzard and tons of took pictures, we chose to stay at home and continued with our movie-binge list :).

last year blizzard :)

Afterwards, everything was back to normal.
Well, not 100 percent normal but I mean, schools and works continue so here we go get ready for the messy roads, still brutally cold weather, delayed traffics and some closings.
Manhattan as always is messy and slippery with those soggy left-over snow piles wherever you look.
And still, we are struggling with the super cold temperature that might stay for a while.
At least we have to endure it for another week or so.
But I'm sure it will better soon.

Hello, Manhattan...

So, wherever you are, stay warm and safe, okay!
Winter is definitely here.

5 Favorite Places during Holiday Season in NYC

Disclaimer: This is my post from the archive but certainly remains valid for this beautiful holiday season :).

Fabulous Holiday Lightshow from Saks Fifth Avenue :)

Such a merry and festive ambience we have here in the Big Apple!

Holiday season is here.
And NYC, as aways, has its own unique, sparkly way to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year for most of us.

Well, we ourselves don't celebrate Christmas but we do respect those who celebrate and enjoy the festivity.
The great vibe dan the feelings of togetherness with your family and loved one. 
And of course, all those sales, right :).

Of course, the best place to spend some time during the holiday season is with your family and your loved ones. Nevertheless, despite all the temptations to check each and every sales, there are some favorite spots that we love to check for its lovely ambience, fantastic holiday displays, the wonderful aroma *and (again) the sale ;)) here in NYC. And many of them are free! 

Here are our 5 Favorite Places during Holiday Season in NYC, which are located on the Midtown Manhattan.
Of course there are so many great places with fantastic holiday feelings and attractions all over the city, but here are some of our favorite spots which we manage to visit :).

Rockefeller Center

Well, I know this particular place is always packed with tourists and those specially flying and flocking to NYC during this holiday season. Thanks to the famous giant Christmas tree in the middle. everyone, celebrating Christmas or not, is surely attracted to it. I guess this tradition has started in 1931 and continues to bring joy to New Yorker and everyone. The tallest tree being put there reached 100 feet tall! it was back in 1991 and the tree was originated from Killingsworth, Connecticut.

the famous tree :)

This year, as always, Rockefeller is packed with those onlookers and admirers willing to squeeze one another just to have a decent look at the tree and those angels. 
Yes, I am talking about me and my kids >_<.
But being there, with family and friends, feeling the vibe is indeed exquisite :).

The Rockefeller Center is located on the 50th street and 5th Avenue, NYC.

happy holiday!

Bryant Park

This beautiful park adjacent to the New York Public Library is another favorite, as it annually hosts Winter Village. 

Which one is your favorite?

Winter village means Christmas market filled with beautiful artisanal and food corners. 
Lovely accessories, souvenirs, arts and crafts and many more are available to those hunting for holiday gifts or just adding personal collections, like me :). We even have Facebook corner with virtual reality being offered to those who want to see the future! 
Not to forget the ice rink and the Christmas  tree!
Although it's slightly smaller compared to the one in Rockefeller, but it's beautifully lit as well.

Bryant Park is located on the 5th Avenue and 40th - 42nd st.

ready for a session of iceskating?

5th Avenue

Oh the famous 5th Avenue! 
Even before the holiday season, people are flocking around to this elegant promenade adorned with famous brands, fancy department stores and chic boutique.

Saks Fifth Avenue

My favorites are those big Department Stores which have dedicated some money, time and energy for one-of-a-kind-entertainment on their front window.
One of them that seems to attract many  spectators is Saks Fifth Avenue with its Light Show.
I can not describe it..you just have to see it yourself!
The lights, the music..the magic! 
The Land of 1000 Delights is the theme for the year :)
Many of those admirers are flocking right in front of the Department Store to wait for the light show and clap their hands after it finishes!
How fun..

Another beautiful holiday window is Bergdof  Goodman at 58th st. and 5th Avenue.
Check it out :)

Bergdoff

Herald Square

Who doesn't know Macy's and all its fantastic annual holiday window!
I have always been a big fan as I always pass this lovely place on my way to the office.

After Snoopy last year and colorful Trolls, plus the magic of celebrating love, togetherness and giving, this year Macy's is back with FAO Schwarz, the legendary toy store in NYC, back to live and is now housed in Macy's Herald Square.
Fun indeed and right on time!
That's what holiday season is all about, right :)
Go ahead..check it out yourself.

The magical display!

Central Park

Never get tired of this beautiful park!
Stretching from 59th st. to 110th., you surely have a lot to choose.
Our fave is still Bethesda Terrace, although we have many people enjoying the ice rink!
Wollman ice rink has been everyone's favorite since I don't know when. With under $20 for the ticket excluded the rental, you can enjoy the endless fun with your loved ones. And of course, it will be a perfect photo op for you!

There are two choices of the rink, Wollman Ice Rink on the east side, near the Central park Zoo and Lasker Ice Rink in mid park between 106th to 108th st.

Again, as I said earlier, of course we have so many other places offering great vibes in NYC and around. I haven't managed to explore other cool neighborhoods like Brooklyn, Williamsburg, West and East Village, and others. Hope I can do that soon :)

So, which one is your favorite?

Happy holiday to you all :)

WW: Winter Storm Stella

Hello there, Stella..

Looks like winter loves NYC and the rest of the East Coast so much it lingers!
But tell you what.. we did have one work-and-school-free day... yaaay!

And that means... playing in the snow :).

Bo loved it so much he didn't want to go home.

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Wonderful Wednesday with Oh My Heartsie Girls

I do miss spring!

By the time I wrote this, we were preparing for another blizzard in NYC.
More than 12 hours of heavy snow, pouring from 1 AM midnight to 5 PM on the next day.

Guess we just have to be patience to meet the blossoming spring!

And enjoy winter storm Stella before spring coming knocking on our door.

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