Posted on 6 November, 2022 in Family and Friends

75 degrees Fahrenheit in November, appointment at the hair salon, new friends, clocks fall back and NY Marathon!

Since Halloween is such a big deal here, I just have to post some more pictures even though it´s over for this time.

View from our window – the Halloween Parade

Last week started out with all of us, except Johan, catching a cold so there were some inactive days and the kids didn´t go to school. This Friday I had some highlights done at the Fox & Jane Salon (took like three and a half hours!) and there I learned a lot. My stylist was really great in telling about Americans´ social behaviour etc. She was born in California and had just moved here from Berlin, Germany where she had stayed for three years, so I think she felt a little bit like an European. 😉

Like why Americans like to talk in the elevator, it´s not because they are really interested in you, but more because they feel an urge to say something and want to fill out the “awkward silence”. It´s kind of funny, since for a Swede – it´s more embarrasing to say something in the elevator and break that awkward silence. 🙂

She also told me about public schools, they (of course) get government money for each child who attends school. The school misses out on some money every day a child is absent. No wonder they are really eager to have Vira in school every day.

Last Wednesday was Doctor´s Day! Olle and I went to the Gouverneur Hospital to see Gloria once again. This time they only checked his weight and gave him his first shot of Varicella, since he had never actually had Chicken pox!

Our next visit to Gloria is on Thursday, when Elvira is going to do her health examination. This week, public schools are closed on Tuesday Nov 8 (Election Day, Midterm) and also on Friday, Nov 11 due to Veterans Day. Wednesday is an early day in school for Vira, due to so called school Conferences – a focus on learning, although behavior and social concerns might be discussed. The teacher will review your child’s progress, including strengths and areas in need of improvement. You also might talk about standardized test results, individualized education plans (IEP). Looks a bit similar to the Swedish arrangement and here it´s also a 15 minutes long student-led session.

Last week was also last class of Drawing. I really liked it, and will probably do another round soon. 🙂

This day the kids also finally got their own bank cards. It only took an hour with our bankman Tamba at Chase 😉 This weekend has been full of hangin´out, first on Friday evening, Johan and I had an AW with Anette, a friend of Lotta´s, at Local 92 on Mulberry Street. A really nice acqauintance. 🙂 By Saturday, Vira and I were window-shopping for four hours… and in the evening Johan and I met up with Suz and Carl for an amazingly tasty dinner at Moustache, a Middle Eastern Cuisine on Bedford St in Greenwich Village. They gave us tips to some jazz clubs like jazz at Lincoln Center, Mezzrow and the Smalls. Hopefully Olle is allowed in some place, despite his age. I will now do a little investigation 🙂

Today is Sunday and time for the New York Marathon 2022, with over 50,000 runners! We started off in Brooklyn on Bedford St, and just in time for Olle to see Katta, a friend of Mari´s. All the rest of us missed her, so we continued our tracking and spotted her at 61 St, 1 Ave on Manhattan 🙂 So fun to see her, and a lot of Swedes were running. It was a true festive atmosphere all over the city, and almost the same temperature as at the Swedish Marathon in June… We have also set the clocks back 1 hour, so again Sweden is 6 hours ahead of us.

I have also got a tip about the Art Gallery Crawl and even found artnet.com by myself. I would like to visit a gallery, like go to an opening in black turtleneck, sip a glass of red and just “hmmm…, hmm…., Ahh”! 🙂

Now the first little sunflower is accompanied by the second 🌻

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Just went down to Trader Joe´s and I have never had a thought about how the Brussels sprouts grow…

Posted on 31 October, 2022 in Family and Friends, Halloween

Embroidery studio, paint class, event Tech for social good and Halloooweeeeeen 👻

Last Friday, Eva and I found a lovely embroidery studio which had opened its doors for Open House NY. We would never have expected a factory on third floor in this Midtown building on Manhattan!

In the afternoon we had a drink at Johan´s office, on the roof top where there also was a photo shoot (like so often in this city). This day was also the first time Elvira met some peers outside of school.

Saturday morning! Lars-Erik, Eva, Johan and I went on Whale watching. 🐳 We boarded a yacht on Pier 36 that took us along the Hudson River and out into the sea. Even though we didn´t see any whales or dolpins, it was an amazing trip with wonderful skyline views and all the horizon with water, blue sky and sun. ☀️

After almost 5 hours at sea, we came home just in time for me and Elvira to take the train up to the Paint Place on West 72nd street. There we got to paint the Hogwart´s Starry Night, it was a really nice place and time passed very quickly!

In the evening we had dinner at Bottino in Chelsea and the day after Lars-Erik and Eva went back to Sweden. On Sunday morning Johan and I had a long gym session and we also booked plane tickets here for Adam, Emma and Tilda during Christmas and New Year!! So happy for having them over. 🥰

Last Monday started with Pajama Day in Vira´s school, and the dressing up continued throughout the week, culminating in Halloween party on Friday night.

Vira has decorated the shirt all by herself!

Last Wednesday Johan and I were at an event, Tech for Social Good – Bridging the Digital Divide at the Official Swedish Residence on Park Avenue, hosted by Consulate General of Sweden. What a beautiful building and interesting panelists.

According to Matthew C. Fraser, NYC CTO, 40% of the citizens of New York lack internet access, not because it doesn´t exist but because they can´t afford to pay for it…

Meta (!) has really helped to connect with new acquaintances here in New York. Last Friday I was at a Swedish luncheon at the Scandinavian House, also on Park Ave. Here I also got to talk to Ulrika Bengtsson, a Swedish star chef in New York!

This weekend wasn´t so fun since both Elvira and I, and now also Olle caught colds with runny noses and sore throats. No fever and no covid – but still just as boring. Yesterday we were supposed to visit Camilla and her family in White Plains, but we had to cancel and today is the Halloween Parade just outside our building, and at least we have the opportunity to watch the madness from our windows this evening!

Over to something more cute – our little Alfons turned 3 this Saturday 😻 and we got him on FaceTime. Adam and Emma had also got him presents, snacks and a bed, like a cat cave in the shape of a cactus 🌵. A blurrrrry pic, but still.

More fun things, Johan and I are invited to a cocktail party. Rumors say it is Lenny Kravitz’s former penthouse, and that Alicia Keys (current owner?) now is trying to sell it… Dress code anyone? 😉

Here are just some nice pictures, from our everyday life right now 🙂

Police cordon off the streets for Halloween

The New York City Human Rights Law prohibits discrimination in New York City, in employment, housing and public accommodations. In NYC, every employee must undergo a harassment and assault training. After completed training you will receive a certificate, and Johan got his yesterday. Very important and relevant.

Upcoming things this week are i.a, if we are all well, follow-up meeting for Olle at the hospital, bank meeting at Chase for the kids to get bank cards of their own, last Drawing class (!) and AW and dinner with new contacts and friends. ❤️

Posted on 21 October, 2022 in Family and Friends, Halloween

In-laws and new friends

Fall, with all its wonderful colors, pumpkins and apples has thrived these two weeks. Degrees around 55 and the sun is still shining most of the time. I note that many birds of various sizes and shapes, fly by outside our windows, wonder if they are planning to leave for warmer latitudes.

Sunrise is just after 7am and sunset at 6.10pm, so still there is much daylight. Here clocks change backward 1 hour between Nov 5 and 6, and the earliest sunset is at 4.28, in Dec. The latest two weeks have been filled with in-laws and some new friends and aquaintences.

Last week, Karin and I went to MoMA and Roosevelt Island. Two interesting places, and it was real fun to take the tram way from the island back to Manhattan again! This week was also full of Google- and Zoom school meetings and also an appointment for Vira to get her MenaCWY at the MinuteClinic. Still no drawing class, due to their miss of adding me to the roster.

We also went to the movies at Angelika Film Center, and saw a Korean film called Decision to leave. We all liked it and it brought up some questions, so we had a little discussion about the film afterwards at Broom St Bar. 🙂

Last Sunday Olle hanged with some new friends from school! They went roller skating in Brooklyn and it seems like he had a great time. 🙂 At the same time, Elvira and I met up with a new Swedish girl and her mom for lunch in Central Park. It was a nice lunch and afterwards Vira and I strolled all the way back home (with a stop at Ulta Beauty on Broadway ;-)).

This evening we had dinner at Lena, a charming little French restaurant at Morton St. Elvira also texted a girl from class, and they will hang out on Friday. So happy for the kids´new friendships. 🙂 She also has picked a new advisory at school, since the people she talks to are there. I have booked her into the same hospital Olle was at, and to the same wonderful doctor, for Elvira to do her Health Examination in addition to her immunization program.

Still foreign to us Swedes, the message is however clear….

Karin went to Sweden last Monday and Lars-Erik and Eva came on Tuesday. We started out with a pizza night at home, and then we made some plans for the rest of the week. On Thursday we went to the Fire museum, halfway between our apt and their hotel.

In the afternoon I finally made it to my Art class in drawing at the Art Studio NY! It started out with a 30 minutes private catch up from last week (when I was at the wrong address, but actually not my fault). Then we painted the entire paper with charcoal, and used a kneaded eraser to subtract. The opposite of adding colors, you create highlights and reflecting areas with this eraser. I think next time is about perspectives. 🙂

This weekend is Open House New York, October 21-23, the 20th annual OHNY Weekend will unlock almost 300 places across the five boroughs through talks, tours, and behind the scenes access. Unfortunately we have no tickets (didn´t know there was a lottery to sign up for) but hopefully we can be in there somewhere.

Saturday is going to be an exciting day! First, we will go on a Whale Watching Cruise (!) in the morning and in the evening, I and Vira have signed up for a painting class called Hogwart’s Starry Night 🙂

Next week is Spirit week and in Elvira´s school it ends with a party on Friday night. On Monday Oct 31 the Village Halloween Parade will take place right outside our building! Exciiiting 👻👻👻

Posted on 10 October, 2022 in Danads, Family and Friends, Schools!, Sports

Events, hospital visit and renting a batting cage at Chelsea Piers

Friday before last, Peo was the first in line of DanAds´co-workers to come to New York for a week of “office warming” party, meetings, dinners and the big event Self-Serve Summit 2022. I think they were so happy and satisfied with all achievements and for me, Olle and Vira it was fun to participate and say Hello to both DanAds´ people and also to some of their clients.

I do a lot of walking 😉 Still, these views at the Hudson River are the best. Walking here is like a refill of peace to the soul.

Last Monday Olle and I went to the Gouverneur Hospital to, what we thought was only to receive his first vaccine doses. Two hours later we walked out of Dr. Gloria Perez´s examination room after a physical exam, had a form filled out of mental health status, titers done and two shots taken (Tdap and MenACWY). His next appointment is in the beginning of November, and then we will find out if he´s immune to e.g. Chickenpox or need a few more doses. We had another approach with Elvira, so she got her first dose of the Varicella at the MinuteClinic inside a CVS Pharmacy. Hopefully that is enough, or we have to arrange for her to visit the hospital as well.

Poor son. Like his big brother, Olle got really dizzy after the two vaccine doses

Hurricane Ian came to New York last weekend, decreased in strength but with heavy rain and winds.

There are still difficult times for the children, especially Vira, and I am hoping for a new “good enough” week as from tomorrow when schools start again. Today they are closed due to Italian Heritage and we are planning for Karin to come here tonight!

Olle is quite impressive considering he is not feeling too happy either, on this day off he’s made a schedule for today´s homework and also for a run at the Hudson. Also, he and I have a nice thing to look forward to, on Nov 22 we will go see Stromae at MSG! 🙂

At Chelsea Piers you can try a lot of sports and last Saturday we rented a cage to perform as baseball batters!

I follow Elvira to school in the mornings and almost every building has a cellar with entrances from the street. This creates regular holes in the sidewalk and I always feel like I’m going to fall down like Alice in Wonderland 😉

We have been here for almost three months already and I know time passes quickly. I really love waking up to a new day and my biggest hope is for the kids to feel comfy and happier.

We have a zoom meeting tomorrow evening with Vira´s school about a new platform called Jumprope and then on Wednesday a Google meeting for 11th graders at Olle´s school.

And I am so looking forward to Thursday, when the first drawing class will take place. 🙂 On Sunday, Elvira and I will have lunch with a Swedish girl and her mom, hopefully it will be a good aquaintance!

Still waiting for the sunflower to blossom… And finally, these two gentlemen are to die for! 😻😻

Posted on 29 September, 2022 in Danads, Family and Friends, Schools!

We are welcoming Fall and lower degrees

Time flies when you´re having fun!

Joy and Tim have been here for an amazing week and left for Sweden last Saturday. We have had a great time in lovely sunny weather and just now Fall seems to have embraced the city.

During the “sis-week” we walked around the city doing loads of things! We started our week together with a late dinner at the Dutch at Sullivan St.

During this week we had a coffee at the newly opened Tin Building by Sean-Georges at Pier 17, eaten Pastrami sandwiches at Katz´s Delicatessen and had dinners at Gelso in Little Italy, Shanghai 21 in China Town, Estancia 460 in Tribeca and Osteria del Porto in the historic South Street Seaport district of Lower Manhattan. We also got the chance to taste cool drinks in the Bar Room and a glass of wine at our “dive bar” Broom Street Bar.

During these days, Joy, Tim and I walked around the city doing a lot of things, like visiting the Met, walking Central Park from corner to corner the whole way up to Harlem, having breakfast at Balthazar´s on Spring St. and walking the High Line.

Since September means Pumpkin time, every grocery shop is filled of pumpkins. And of course Starbucks are also taking up the trend and Elvira has a new favorite “Spicy Pumpkin Latte”. 🙂

Joy and Tim flew back to Sweden around noon last Saturday and on Sunday morning we woke up to a chilly morning about 66 F (which Johan loves) and decided to power walk the Williamsburg Bridge, crossed the bridge and headed south into Bedford Ave in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. This was an experience, to see the Hasidic Jewish Community Then we took the Manhattan Bridge (guaranteed the least nice brigdes of the BMW Bridges) and landed in China Town on the Manhattan side and headed home.

A lovely lunch at the City Vineyard at Pier 26 followed the bridges trip. Johan´s friend Peter Martin had invited his New York friends (he himself had just participated in the OCR World Championships up in Vermont) for a get together lunch! So nice to listen to the experiences of other Swedes and besides, there was an American sitting at the table. 😉

Here I also learned about the moth-like bugs who have blanketed New York the last months, the Spotted Lanternfly – an invasive planthopper from Asia. They only look black and beige with their wings folded, but once flying they show the bright colors of red, black and white.

This week schools were closed Monday and Tuesday due to Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year. Still, the best times for the kids are apparently no-school-times, but as from yesterday they are back in the class rooms. We have also found out that they will need some more doses of vaccine due to missing one or some according to the American immunization program… Olle and I will see Dr. Gloria Perez at the Gouverneur Hospital on Monday, with the mission of getting him fully vaccinated. Elvira is probably next in line.

Last Tuesday I met a new friend, Camilla from White Plains, a county north of NYC. She also has two kids in school (German school, but anyways!) We had lunch at the Tavern on the Green in Central Park. Such a nice place, and such a nice Camilla 🙂 She and her family just moved here from 18 years in Munich.

We hope so much for the kids to soon feel better and I think it would be great if they actually planned for some after school activities, but time will tell.

On to something more fun 🙂 Danads will host a Self-Serve Summit next week which spills over into other activities, such as an office warming party, drink at ours and an opportunity for me, Olle and Elvira to say Hi to Johan´s co-workers from all over the world who are coming here next week!