queens botanical gardens

I'm always trying to get more time outdoors and to find places in the city that are clean, naturally beautiful, and offer a great place to relax. While Central Park is great, in the summer it can get crowded and it still doesn't offer a lot of privacy. While I'm not sure about the other boroughs, Queens has Botanical Gardens located in Flushing that offer a quiet retreat from the busy urban landscape.

I was there yesterday for a walk through and learned that they recently started charging admission ($4/day for adults). While is it sad that we have to pay to enjoy nature, the good news is that there are now fewer people in the park, and when I was there Friday afternoon it seemed pretty empty of people, although full with birds and wildlife.

Other bonuses include that they have a sustainable building/welcome center, offer memberships at a low cost (makes a great gift), and have a variety of plants in bloom throughout the season. I've now marked the Queens gardens as a place to go when Forest Hills gardens gets repetitive and Central Park is too far away or too busy. It's not that far by car or you can take a 7 bus or the LIRR to Flushing. For more info their website is http://www.queensbotanical.org/.

vegan cupcakes & happy father's day!

The long and hard search to find great vegan desserts may be coming to an end. Little by little, more and more yummy, cruelty-free delectables are coming across my path.

Last night, I was at a friend's wedding celebration in New Jersey and they had a gorgeous cupcake tier that was completely vegan. I had not one, but two cupcakes (a chocolate with coconut frosting and a vanilla with chocolate frosting) and they both were very tasty. The cake part was something special, and the frosting soft and whipped but not too sweet. I have to say these are the best vegan cupcakes I've tasted yet, topping Babycakes and Whole Foods (both of whom, by the way, provide vegan baked goods in Manhattan).

The source was Sweet Avenue bake shop. Unfortunately, since it's in New Jersey, I don't see myself getting there in the near future. But hey, I can dream... (and they do deliver...)

And before I forget, Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there! Mine is super great so be sure to thank yours on this special day!

are your cosmetics safe?

I just came across a great site that reviews all types of cosmetics and skin care products for levels of toxicity, animal testing, and safe ingredients. It has a sunscreen section that lets you know of any misleading spfs and potentially harmful ingredients, as well as both UVA and UVB protection.
Check it out at http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/ Safe sunning!

back to the main stream

All of last week I was blissfully situated in the woods. I was completely cut off from modern everyday life - no cell phone, hot shower, or flushing toilet. I wasn't just camping or hiking, but I found myself at Tom Brown's Tracker School, located in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey. There, I was surprised to find that a) the Pine Barrens are anything but barren and b) the roads and woods reminded me closely of Martha's Vineyard - sandy drives, medium height bushes, and a mix of youngish trees that were filled with more wildlife that one could imagine.

As I slowly readjust to the metropolitan world, I am praying that the essence of the experience will remain with me: the indescribable feeling of being completely immersed in nature, with no walls or barriers between me and the soft earth, the stroking breeze, and the chime of numerous birds from the leafy green latticework above.

The course was practical but also spiritual. During the week-long stay, our group of 62 "standard class" students were taught subjects concerning survival, tracking, and awareness. The school's philosophy (which I found both intriguing and comforting) views the teachings not as a man vs. nature battle, but as ancient skills which, through practice, slowly meld your way of living into one in harmony with the pristine perfection of the natural world.

While so much can be said for the intensity and depth of the course, I will consider it a success if just one reader takes a moment to: stop and smell the roses or flowers (literally), enjoys the time spent outside just a little more, or looks with appreciation and gratitude at the food on their plate that was so graciously given by none other than Mother Nature herself.

organic food on 23rd st

About 10 days ago, before I left for a week-long trip, I was in Manhattan for some business and came across a recently opened vegetarian restaurant called Terri. Up until recently and still a bit ongoing, the number of vegetarian and vegan restaurants in the city has been a number easily countable on both hands. However, with the opening of this restaurant (just a few blocks from the cafeteria-style Bonobo's), I began to feel that there is hope for a healthier lifestyle and diet, and that this is catching on more and more with the mainstream public.

Although Terri calls itself Organic Vegetarian, nearly all the menu items are vegan, but it is not so scary as a newcomer may think. It has the usual Manhattan lunch offerings, including sandwiches, wraps, smoothies, salads as well as ever-elusive vegan desserts. I was happy with the spinach salad I purchased, and even happier with their chocolate brownie, which was too full of choclatey goodness to finish in one sitting. On another day, I would love to return and sample some more menu items, and since it is near the 23rd St. F train stop it is convenient even for someone coming from Queens.

tea time

Tea has been quite the saviour for me as I try to maintain a yogic lifestyle and, well lets be honest, not eat too much. I have quite a variable schedule - some days I get up at quarter to 6 and others I start my workday at noon. I finish working at any time from 7 on an early day to 10 or 11 on a late night.

This has made developing an "eating schedule" a bit difficult. Nutritionists and exercisers usually recommend 4-6 small meals per day, while some yogis fast part of the day, maybe only eating one large meal at midday. I think most of us can control what we eat during the main part of the day, or at least keep track. Whether we bring lunch to work, eat at home, or go to a restaurant with friends, we can account for what we've consumed and counted it as a meal.

However, when at home, it's not so simple. Does that piece of fruit, cup or two of juice, bag of chips, or sandwich (or two) count as a "meal"? Or maybe a snack? Or possibly half a snack? And then when can we eat the other half?

This is when tea comes in handy. My fiance and I must have at least 10 boxes of tea stored in the cupboard, ready to suit every mood, time, and taste. Whether it's a morning peppermint or green, a cleansing blend of berry or rooibos, or a soothing evening tea such as chamomile or "Bedtime," the brew of the herbed bag is there to comfort and help fill an empty or wanting stomach. We have a lot of the "Yogi Teas", partially because the have little inspirational quotes on the tags and partially because the flavors are great.

While getting ready for the day or while preparing for bed, it's easy to make a cup or pot in a few minutes. The warm, tasty liquid is great when it's too late or too early to eat and you're hungry or about to get there. It is kind of an indulgence, but a sophisticated one that can help shed pounds instead of adding them. Speaking of which, I think I'll go warm the kettle.