October 31st: Winter is setting in

Yesterday the minimum temperature fell down to 1 degree centigrade, surely winter is here. And today the temperature during the day was close to 10 degrees, so time to buckle up for the cold. The forecast for the next ten days also shows no change in temperatures. The time for layers of clothing, numb hands, running noses, chapped skin and below freezing temperature is here. Not just this, cold weather also brings in dull days, lazy weekends and not-so attractive outdoors. Trust me, winters in New York can be extremely depressing at times. 

                                                      Central Park after Heavy Snowfall

Yes, all this makes one hate this time of the year but it also has it's charm, especially after snowfall, the whole landscape changes and everything looks so pretty. You can go out and jump in the snow or play around with snowballs. That is definitely the best part about winters. Oh, and there's one more good thing about it, it's the Christmas time. Without doubt, Christmas steals the show with Rockefeller, lights on trees, Santa Claus, the color red, Christmas Carols, the stores are decorated and just about everything seems to be in the Christmas mood.

So, it can be said - winter comes with its own goodies. And that also includes the food part, with lots of appetite to eat in this season, one can go on eating and eating. And can continue eating while snuggled up in blanket and watching a Christmas movie,  or can even go out for ice skating to burn some of those calories.

Though winters give us a hard time but everyone comes out a little fatter than before. That's the beauty of it. 

In Love with my iPhone 4

Yes!! That's true. Am completely loving my new iPhone 4, thanks to my husband for giving me such a wonderful B'day gift. It is so awesome in so many ways. And my first b'day in U.S. was super-super cool. We went for shopping, spent time in New York and went to a restaurant for dinner; and yes the iPhone made my day.

                                                                          iPhone 4

There are so many applications in the phone and so much of good stuff. The vibrant screen, 5-mega-pixel camera and HD video recording, nothing can be better. Just the perfect phone for me.

                                                                    iPhone 4 

Trick or Treat: It's Halloween

Last year, I missed the Halloween Parade but this year I plan to be there right in time. And October is the month of Halloween, with Pumpkins, Costumes and Fright Fests - it's a hell of a time. 

Halloween, is observed on October 31, but celebrations go on for whole of the month. The night before the Hallows Day (November 1st), also known as the 'Day of the Dead', 'is a mix of Celtic festival of Samhein, Catholic All Saint's Day and Roman Festival of Feralia' (source: history.com). The Celtic celebrated this day, i.e. on the eve of their new year by lighting bonfires and wearing costumes to ward off the ghosts, as it was believed that dead returned back on this day, as the line between world and the other world blurred. 

Nowadays, the celebrations include:

'Trick or Treat' - Children dressed in costumes go from house to house for treats by asking the question 'Trick or Treat'.

'Costume Parties'- People dressed as ghosts, witches, skeletons, devils and celebrities attend parties. These costumes are usually available both online and in stores in all varieties and themes like Disney princess, ghost busters, Harry Potter, Spider man, Wizard of Oz, Lady Gaga and many-many more.

'Jack-O-Lanterns' - carved Pumpkins which look like human face are lit in the night. Many Pumpkin carving and painting competitions go on during the Halloween month.

'Haunts' - The haunted attractions, where people pay to get scared. Like Haunted Houses, Fright Fests in Six Flags Adventure Parks, 'After Dark' in Madame Tassauds, Barn of Terror in Kingston, Blood Manor Haunted House in Chelsea where visitors pay $30 per person and wait for two hours to enter (am New York, 21st October 2010, page 10), Pure Terror Scream Park in Chester, Ghost Tours in Washington. Frightening !!

'Apple Bobbing' - where people take out apples from a tub of water using only their teeth. Must be difficult. 

'Candy Apples' - Treat for people of all ages, apples rolled in sugar syrup. Yumm.

'Scary Movies' - Right time to watch all those scary flicks, in low lights.....boohoo! And some good options to get those movies are- Renting a DVD from Blockbuster, Buying the latest spooky flick or 'Huluween'- Hulu's guide to some of the scariest movies.

'Halloween Parade' - The most awaited attraction of Halloween, where people come out on the streets wearing their costumes and scaring others on the way in the night parade - time to be in New York.

In all, Halloween is fun, delicious and scary at the same time. Waiting to join the Halloween Parade on October 31st. 

Links:
1. http://www.history.com/topics/halloween

Melody to the Heart: Country Music

Quite Recently, I have become a big fan of 'Country Music'. The latest hits by Lady Antebellum, Sugarland and Darius Rucker are true melodies to the heart. And that calls for some digging up - yes! the history of country music.

For starters, according to Music Encyclopedia, Country Music is 'an American style of music, developed from folk music of the rural Southern USA and used to be known as Hillbilly music. It became commercial after 1920s, and after World War II, Nashville became the center of country music. In 1960s and 70s, with the fusion of south-western and south-eastern elements, it became popular but the subject matter of the songs continues to be love, prison, hard work and home'. 

More can be explored about its history from the Country Music Hall of Fame in Tennessee, USA that has preserved the history and traditions of country music over the years. Some great names are associated with this genre of music like the icon of Rock n Roll, Elvis Presley, known as 'Hillbilly cat' started out with country music; Jimmy Rodgers also known as the 'Father of Country Music', was famous for his rhythmic yodeling; George Jones has a long list of hits, Loretta Lynn and her hit single 'Success' in 1962, Red Foley and his 1951 hit 'Peace in the Valley'; and Chet Atkins and Owen Bradley created the country music style of 'Nashville sound', Jim Reeves and hit single 'He'll have to go' and Gram Parsons and many more famous names. 

The more recent crop of country musicians includes Taylor Swift, George Strait, Carrie Underwood, Darius Rucker, Trace Adkins (from the Apprentice fame), Toby Keith, Lady Antebellum, Keith Urban, Sugarland, Uncle Kracker, Brad Paisley. Their music is amazing. Some of my favorites are 'Smile' by Uncle Cacker, 'Need you Now' by Lady Antebellum, 'April Showers' by Sugarland and 'Fearless' by Taylor Swift.

Country Music 'Rocks'. 

Links:
1. Music Encyclopedia:  http://www.answers.com/topic/country-music

Seasons n Shades

The various shades of seasons - White for Winter, Yellow for Spring, Green for Summer and Brown for Fall/Autumn. Its not a list of colors in fashion but these colors are associated with the different seasons and bring out the right essence of each.

Winter reminds one of snow - the first thing that comes to mind. Everything seems to be covered with a white sheet of snow, its everywhere - on the trees, outside the house, on the chairs, on the statues, on the umbrella (if you are holding one) and on the cars. Its a beautiful sight to see Christmas trees covered with snow. The white color also reminds one of cold, the chilly mornings and the breezy evenings when you are struggling with your gloves and cap, sipping hot chocolate before going to bed, coats and scarfs, long boots and ya! red noses.

                                                                              Bryant Park, NY

And who doesn't remember the spring time, when there are colors all around. The color yellow symbolizes the vibrant spring, just after snowy winters. Beautiful flowers, trees covered with leaves (unlike the bare trees in winters), flowy dresses, flip-flops, iced-tea, Cherry blossoms and just everything seems to come alive.

Then the summertime - bright sun, strawberry ice-creams, big sunglasses, crowded beaches, colourful umbrellas, bottles of sunscreen, long days, lazy afternoons and greenery everywhere. Summer reminds one of all these things and many more. Its the time to sit back at home and relax.

                                                                      Central Park, NY

Fall is the time when summer ends and winters begin to set in. Leaves turn brown, pink sweatshirts, hot coffee, blueberry muffin, brown jackets, Pumpkin pies, Halloween Jack-o-lanterns, chilly evenings, Thanksgiving Parade - fall is fun.

All the four seasons have their own charm and am lucky to be in New York to see it all. And the tree outside my window has been through all the changing seasons and shades and is also the source of inspiration for this blog. 

Splendid : A Walk on the Brooklyn Bridge

The plan was to go on Saturday to see the Brooklyn Bridge but we decided to go on Sunday afternoon. First we went to the Brooklyn Bridge Park, the newly opened Pier 1 was beautiful. With lush greenery and a stunning backdrop of the Brooklyn bridge and Manhattan Bridge - it was picture perfect. And of course how can one forget to mention the famous Brooklyn ice-cream factory. 

                                             View of Brooklyn Bridge from the Park

We spent some time in the park, clicking pictures and eating ice-cream and just enjoying the cool breeze. Got some beautiful shots of the park and of the many brides who were getting their pictures clicked. Then it was time for the walk on the bridge.

Brooklyn Bridge - It is one of the oldest (127yr old) suspension bridges in the U.S. and was the longest suspension bridge in the world till 1903. Unexpectedly, when we went on the bridge, there were a lot of people. People were walking in both directions on one side and the other side was for the cyclists. We moved on and on the way saw a newly married couple walking down the bridge. We reached the first tower in 15 minutes and started clicking pictures. The view was breathtaking - statue of liberty far in the water and the Manhattan bridge right beside with a clear skyline view. And yes, we also saw a music video shoot going on the bridge, people were stopping by to look at what's going on.

                                                                     Brooklyn Bridge

Then march on to the next tower began, with some more pictures and some rest breaks on the way. And finally, we crossed the bridge in one hour, that's a long time to walk over a mile. The views were unmatched and the walk was so much fun.