Halloween – Taby goes SoHo

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. ❤️

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 👻👻👻

Taby goes SoHo

Reality check – relocating Taby, Sweden to Manhattan, the USA

Category: Halloween

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

In-laws and new friends