June 16, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Wishes Really Do Come True
The sun was back today. Apparently, it was either 18 pennies worth of wishes in a fountain or the sun dance I did with Mom. Whatever the case, we were back on the beach for another sun filled afternoon.
The only good part about the heavy winds and rain was it churned out a new crop of shells. I've got a whole new collection of these souvenirs to bring home as a reminder of our first family vacation. And I'm pretty sure I've had more than my fill of sand at this point too!
Here I am waving bye bye to the sun and sea, and hoping my dance and wishes are good for another day of nice weather.
February 13, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Wishing for Better Weather
Rainy days on vacation always get me down. So we packed up the car and drove down to Naples, Florida. What's in Naples you ask? A great place to watch the boats, have lunch, and watch ceiling fans - pure heaven and distraction!
After lunch we explored town, and Dad wisely avoided the part where all the fancy stores were. I greeted many tourists on our walk, but the highlight of the day was when Mom and Dad taught me how to make a wish in the fountain. I wished for the sun to shine again tomorrow and for more of that yummy fudge I had for the first time!
February 12, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
A Whole Lot More Relaxin'
About the only thing going on today was the sun! Owen napped comfortably on Dad down on the beach, and he awoke to the smell of a BBQ at the Mucky Duck - a local restaurant down the beach from our condo. On the way home picking up sea shells, we saw a heron blending in among the locals on the beach.
This was also the second day in a row riding on the back of Dad's bike, and he's so cute back there. See for yourself.
Tomorrow the weather is supposed to turn, so after taking in all the sun we could today, we're exhausted and ready for some different adventures tomorrow!
February 11, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Another Day of Firsts
Today we had strong Gulf winds, but the weather was otherwise perfect. Owen walked on the beach in the morning and had a relaxing nap by the pool. Today we also rented bicycles for the week, and Owen rode with Dad for the very first time. He loved the view from his perch, and he chatted furiously with the world passing by, occasionally pulling on Dad's shirt to remind him to go slowly!
The sunset tonight was beautiful, and while we were down on the beach, Owen met
a "wa wa" Golden Retriever, named Rolly. He was a nice reminder of home, but it's still a few more days before
Owen goes home to the real wa wa.
February 10, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Florida sun... and Owen's First Flight
Owen is doing fine on his first adventure outside the Tri-State area and handled his very first flight like a pro! "The Mayor" kept Mom and Dad on their toes running up the aisle to say "hi" to all his neighbors!
From here on the sunny west coast of Florida, we're getting settled into our nice home away from home for the week. Owen's first adventure was to the beach to reconnect with the waves. He really seems to have missed the salt water this winter. The bath isn't quite the same! He was so excited once we were on beach, we had to hold him back from walking into the Gulf after getting full stride on his own in the sand!
The highlight of day one for Owen though, was the blue slide that he could go down all on his own. The bonus was a pile of fresh white sand at the bottom he could touch, throw and eat. Yes eat. He tried a few hand-fulls, and after after Mom and Dad shook sand away from his mouth, he signed for "more", which he was very upset to be denied. Oh well, it was just the first day!
February 09, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
January 01, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
We have been remiss in posting recently to our blog, but this video of Owen's first year should more than make up for our absence!
December 09, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
December 08, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Ready in 2010... just in time for Owen to enter Kindergarten.
The city will build a 950-seat elementary and middle school in Battery Park City, a recognition of the unanticipated surge in population in Lower Manhattan since 9/11, officials announced this morning.
At the morning news conference, community leaders applauded the announcement. Julie Menin, the chairwoman of Community Board 1, called it the “the best possible thing for the area, adding that she had lobbied city and state officials for a new school since last year. “We desperately need this,” she said. “The schools are literally bursting at the seams.”
December 07, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
September 13, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
September 08, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
June 12, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Mets Win... And I meet Mr. Met!
My first ever visit to Shea... the home team wins 5-4 AND we get a picture with the famous Mr. Met! Does it get any better than that?
Due to my tender young age, we stayed for the first 5 innings, but it was enough to meet Mr. Met and watch David Wright and Carlos Delgado belt home runs! It was so loud that I cried a little, but they were tears of joy.
I can't wait for my next game!
May 12, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
"Futuristic" Plans
The original master plan for Battery Park City was developed between 1962-1975 under Governor Nelson
Rockefeller. The vision was to expand the area of lower Manhattan; to get people living
downtown again; and to provide lower Manhattan with more trees
and open spaces.
The original "futuristic design"
incorporated pedestrian traffic with park-like spaces on one level and
transportation uses on another subterranean level.
The Rockefeller vision, however, was tabled when New York City's economy faltered in the late 1970's.
March 21, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
March 16, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
The NYC Economic Development Corp is waiting for a new tenant to occupy the Battery Maritime Building in Lower Manhattan (next to the Staten Island ferry terminal).
We heard a rumor that the site was going to be used as a 140,000 square foot gourmet market, modeled on the Pike Place Market in Seattle.
Bring it on!
March 05, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Another month of progress
Last month we posted a photo of continuing WTC construction from Lower Manhattan Development Corporation's web site. This month we're switching to Project Rebirth's "Weather Bug." Seems the LMDC is no longer keeping a watchful eye. Oh well, luckily we still have a source to keep tabs on the progress!
March 01, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Our Uncle Ken will be a special guest performer in the Improv troupe called, "The Monkeys in the Atrium". Anything that has monkey in the name, of course, has to be a winner!! Back to the point - Ken's "BIG show" is on March 25th at Comedy Cellar. One day, when Uncle Ken is famous, Owen will say: I knew him when he lived in a basement apartment in Queens, and he brought the $2 blue plush toy to me in the hospital. Those were the days!
Good luck Ken, have a good show!
February 26, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
How big will Owen be?
The measurements are in! At Owen's two month doctors visit yesterday, he weighed in at 11 pounds 13 ounces - that is a 2 pound weight gain in the past month! Thanks again for voting in our poll.
Owen also grew two inches and is now just shy of two feet tall. According to growth charts, Owen is well on his way to topping off at a whopping 6' 1" tall.
Next visit will be March 16th.
February 23, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Gehry's Beekman Tower Will Redefine the Skyline
Architect Frank Gehry, who designed
the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, is designing a glass and titanium skinned
tower at 8 Spruce Street, one block south
of the Brooklyn Bridge entrance and half block
east of City Hall.
Beekman Tower will be 75-stories, 876-foot-high and primarily be residential. It also will house a K-through-8 public school and a medical facility for NYU Hospital.
Work kicked off in fall 2006, and the top floor will be up in winter
2008, completed by mid-2009.
February 21, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Owen went underground to ride the rails for the first time this weekend, which officially solidifies his place as a "New Yorker". 
His first subway ride started on the R train from Rector to Prince St, and then back along the #6 line from Astor Place to Wall St. via the #4.
The boy slept through almost the entire thing, though he occasionally peaked his eyes open when the muffled announcements were made over the train's PA system. Overall though, he seemed perfectly at ease - like a professional commuter!
February 20, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Ten 35mm
time-lapse cameras situated around the World Trade Center Site have been shooting
one frame of film every five minutes, seven days a week since May 2002. This not-for-profit documentary project, called Project Rebirth, will continue until
reconstruction is complete.
The final film will become a feature-length documentary and is intended for a future memorial installation.
February 12, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Owen and Dad took a lap around the WTC site yesterday, to inspect the 41-story former Deutsche Bank
building at 130 Liberty St. Steel removal will begin this month at the rate of one floor per week.
Here is an animation showing the planned demolition work.
Continue reading to see more pictures from our walk, including a view of 130 Liberty St. from our apartment window.
February 11, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Owen started to smile this week. He'd been smiling a bit already, but only while he was sleeping. Now he's giving us big smiles during play-time, and once in a while a little laughter too.
To everyone checking Owen's Flickr site, we wanted to let you know that we started a new photo album, because of the 200 photo limit on the Flickr free site.
The "Owen Pix" link in the left-hand column will take you to the new album.
Thanks for stopping by!
February 05, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Competing design teams selected
Right here in Owen's backyard, across the river, will soon be another exciting "new" place to visit. Though not itself new, Governors Island was one of the first settlements of the Dutch West India Company in 1624. Now the Island is getting a brand new look. The Governors Island Preservation and Education Corporation selected competing teams this month, to design plans for an open public space, which includes new parkland, a waterfront promenade, and historic district.
January 29, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
One steel cage up, many more to go
NYT: A 70-foot-long steel cage was lifted by cranes yesterday and then lowered into a trench at the World Trade Center site. 63 cages will reinforce a concrete foundation wall at the site.
Though not everyone is a fan of the Freedom Tower.
January 24, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
Hey, Will Smith do you need any extras?
First he filmed Hitch in Battery Park City. Now Will Smith is back downtown filming a $32M two minute scene for his new movie - I am Legend.
We have some great head-shots of Owen if you need any extras for the shoot, Will?
A photoblogger was on the scene.
January 23, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
January 22, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Kids being kids?
A designer’s rendering of a proposed
supervised playground in Lower Manhattan.
The New York Times and now Tribeca Tribune have spilled quite a bit of ink these past few weeks about a new playground concept slated for the Seaport area. We'll let you know what Owen thinks of it, assuming the thing ever gets built. Given how most of these projects work in NY though, I suspect we'll be submitting college applications by the time Mayor Andrew Giuliani (hey, don't be surprised!) presides over the opening ceremony.
January 22, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Steel Columns at WTC Site
We walk by it often, and slowly but surely the signs of progress at the WTC site are becoming visible. Here a live webcam of the site shows the steel columns that recently went in the ground for Freedom Tower. By the time Owen is in school, the construction will be in full swing.
January 21, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
