After our day-long Manhattan walking tour, we relaxed at Uncle Albert's house where Auntie Anita spent the day preparing a nice home-cooked meal. Besides the eating, there was the usual picture taking and playing with Wesley. The highlight of the night was problem solving though. Uncle Albert gave us 2 puzzles to solve. The first is depicted to the upper left of this post. There are 9 dots and it's possible to connect all 9 with 4 straight, consecutive lines (4 strokes w/o lifting your pen). It took about 30 minutes, but Jeremy put us on the right track and I ended up finishing it off. In the second puzzle, one person had a string tying both wrist together. Then a second person would have the same setup except his/her string would be looped through the first person's. Supposedly, there's a way to maneuver out without untying the wrists. Jeremy sort of solved this one, but I'll explain both of these puzzle answers in a future post. I want to give you guys a chance to solve these before I spoil it!
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Uncle Albert's Puzzles
After our day-long Manhattan walking tour, we relaxed at Uncle Albert's house where Auntie Anita spent the day preparing a nice home-cooked meal. Besides the eating, there was the usual picture taking and playing with Wesley. The highlight of the night was problem solving though. Uncle Albert gave us 2 puzzles to solve. The first is depicted to the upper left of this post. There are 9 dots and it's possible to connect all 9 with 4 straight, consecutive lines (4 strokes w/o lifting your pen). It took about 30 minutes, but Jeremy put us on the right track and I ended up finishing it off. In the second puzzle, one person had a string tying both wrist together. Then a second person would have the same setup except his/her string would be looped through the first person's. Supposedly, there's a way to maneuver out without untying the wrists. Jeremy sort of solved this one, but I'll explain both of these puzzle answers in a future post. I want to give you guys a chance to solve these before I spoil it!
59th to 34th Walking Tour
Last Friday, Uncle Mariano mentioned wanting to see Trump Tower. So we took the 1 train to 59th St. and made that our starting point for the day. We then made our way down Broadway to take pictures of all of the theaters, shows and fancy stores. We stopped at the M&M store, Times Square, detoured to the NY Times Building, Midtown Comics and ended at Manhattan Mall.
We then headed back to Queens to pick up the van and drive over to Uncle Albert's for dinner.
We then headed back to Queens to pick up the van and drive over to Uncle Albert's for dinner.
DVDeals 3/30 - 4/5
DVD Tuesday
Sweeney Todd will be the feature title for this DVD Tuesday. Again, Circuit City has the best price for the regular edition at $15.99. The special edition is the same price in Circuit City or Best Buy at $22.99.
Best Buy Deals
- Pursuit of Happiness for $7.50
- DaVinci Code for $7.50
- Matix for $7.50
- Top Gun Sp. Edition for $7.50
- Forrest Gump for $7.50
Circuit City Deals
The way it works this week is... you buy one of these at $9.99 and you can get another one off this list for free:
- Italian Job
- Ocean's Twelve
- Forrest Gump
- Die Another Day
- Ronin
- S.W.A.T.
Sweeney Todd will be the feature title for this DVD Tuesday. Again, Circuit City has the best price for the regular edition at $15.99. The special edition is the same price in Circuit City or Best Buy at $22.99.
Best Buy Deals- Pursuit of Happiness for $7.50
- DaVinci Code for $7.50
- Matix for $7.50
- Top Gun Sp. Edition for $7.50
- Forrest Gump for $7.50
Circuit City Deals
The way it works this week is... you buy one of these at $9.99 and you can get another one off this list for free:
- Italian Job
- Ocean's Twelve
- Forrest Gump
- Die Another Day
- Ronin
- S.W.A.T.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Swan Club Reception
Our group, comprised of 2 cars headed out right after the ceremony knowing it would be a challenge to find our way back to Northern Blvd. and then find our way to the secluded Swan Club for the reception. We had 2 sets of maps/directions and Jeremy's precise distance calculations, but all of that combined couldn't tell us that an unlabeled exit was the correct path to take. We passed it at first, then entered from the other direction based in the distance. Through many turns and u-turns, we finally made it. One funny thing about our road trip was... another guest decided to follow me and my dad and didn't consult with us beforehand. So when I noticed a car driving in between me and my dad's car, I actually tried to lose him!
The reception was original... no alcohol and no dancing. I think that's the first one I've been to of that nature. It didn't really bother me since I don't do either anyway! But Andy & Evelyn's friends came up with some original, creative presentations to keep the guests entertained. I was afraid that the whole thing was going to be a Christian rock concert, but they made use of modern technology and added some video, animation and slideshows. Most importantly, the skits were comedic.
The reception was original... no alcohol and no dancing. I think that's the first one I've been to of that nature. It didn't really bother me since I don't do either anyway! But Andy & Evelyn's friends came up with some original, creative presentations to keep the guests entertained. I was afraid that the whole thing was going to be a Christian rock concert, but they made use of modern technology and added some video, animation and slideshows. Most importantly, the skits were comedic.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Red Mango
Location: 136-53 Roosevelt Ave., Flushing, NY
Cuisine: Korean, Dessert
Hours: 10am-10pm
Phone: (718) 886-1916
Website: www.redmangousa.com
Prices: About $5 per person
Credit Cards: All major
Food: 9
Service: 8
Value: 8
Environment: 7
Frequency: Unique
After the post-rehearsal dinner, I was able to get most of the cousins to hang out at Red Mango for some Korean frozen yogurt. This is a store that opened a couple of months ago and I pass by it all the time. I thought nothing of it until I read Lisa's post. It came at the right time too because it gave me a nice place to take my family.
The procedure is pretty straight forward. You choose a cup size, then pick either regular or green tea flavor. And then add whatever toppings you want. The staff was friendly and helpful. Since it was our first time there, all six of us probably looked a little confused and overwhelmed with the topping choices (most of which are healthy). The frozen yogurt tasted great. Each of us ordered a variety of combinations and everyone seemed to enjoy their creations. Emily had Pinkberry before and gave it a thumbs down. I'll have to try that myself one day just for comparison. It's actually just a few stores down.
The space itself is surprisingly clean given the amount of traffic that goes through Roosevelt Ave. each day. It has a nice modern, artsy look and feel. It's lit by slightly dimmed halogens that look great on the red walls.
Be sure to click on the slideshow to access the Picasa Web album as I have written comments for individual photos.
Cuisine: Korean, Dessert
Hours: 10am-10pm
Phone: (718) 886-1916
Website: www.redmangousa.com
Prices: About $5 per person
Credit Cards: All major
Food: 9
Service: 8
Value: 8
Environment: 7
Frequency: Unique
After the post-rehearsal dinner, I was able to get most of the cousins to hang out at Red Mango for some Korean frozen yogurt. This is a store that opened a couple of months ago and I pass by it all the time. I thought nothing of it until I read Lisa's post. It came at the right time too because it gave me a nice place to take my family.
The procedure is pretty straight forward. You choose a cup size, then pick either regular or green tea flavor. And then add whatever toppings you want. The staff was friendly and helpful. Since it was our first time there, all six of us probably looked a little confused and overwhelmed with the topping choices (most of which are healthy). The frozen yogurt tasted great. Each of us ordered a variety of combinations and everyone seemed to enjoy their creations. Emily had Pinkberry before and gave it a thumbs down. I'll have to try that myself one day just for comparison. It's actually just a few stores down.
The space itself is surprisingly clean given the amount of traffic that goes through Roosevelt Ave. each day. It has a nice modern, artsy look and feel. It's lit by slightly dimmed halogens that look great on the red walls.
Be sure to click on the slideshow to access the Picasa Web album as I have written comments for individual photos.
An Eventful Friday
Lower Manhattan
Jet knocked a couple of items off his agenda in the morning as he made his pilgrimage to Ground Zero and then checked out the New Museum of Contemporary Art at noon.
Midtown to Union Sq.
We got up early and headed towards Midtown Manhattan. Matt did some shopping at the NBA store on 5th Avenue while the rest of the family checked out designer clothing. I had to run some errands, so I went off to my apartment as they looked around and met up with them again 30 minutes later. Our next stop was the 23rd St./6th Ave. area. We covered some stores on Matt's list such as Tekserve & Best Buy. We took a lunch break at New York Burger Co. and then went shopping for clothes between that area and Union Sq. Everyone ended up buying something at the end of the day, so... success!
Post-rehearsal Dinner
After a short break at my parents' house, we went to meet up with the rest of the family for the first wedding event... the post-rehearsal dinner at Northern Manor. We met up with pretty much everyone else from my Dad's side of the family and were introduced to the bride's side. All of the cousins got a chance to catch up with each other since we had our own table to ourselves. I haven't seen Jennifer & Jeremy since the last wedding... Cindy and Wil in 2002. Matt & Margaret were at Christine's last December. I also haven't seen Greg in over a year... and he's a local!
Jet knocked a couple of items off his agenda in the morning as he made his pilgrimage to Ground Zero and then checked out the New Museum of Contemporary Art at noon.
Midtown to Union Sq.
We got up early and headed towards Midtown Manhattan. Matt did some shopping at the NBA store on 5th Avenue while the rest of the family checked out designer clothing. I had to run some errands, so I went off to my apartment as they looked around and met up with them again 30 minutes later. Our next stop was the 23rd St./6th Ave. area. We covered some stores on Matt's list such as Tekserve & Best Buy. We took a lunch break at New York Burger Co. and then went shopping for clothes between that area and Union Sq. Everyone ended up buying something at the end of the day, so... success!
Post-rehearsal Dinner
After a short break at my parents' house, we went to meet up with the rest of the family for the first wedding event... the post-rehearsal dinner at Northern Manor. We met up with pretty much everyone else from my Dad's side of the family and were introduced to the bride's side. All of the cousins got a chance to catch up with each other since we had our own table to ourselves. I haven't seen Jennifer & Jeremy since the last wedding... Cindy and Wil in 2002. Matt & Margaret were at Christine's last December. I also haven't seen Greg in over a year... and he's a local!
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Tangers Outlets
Location: 1770 West Main St., Riverhead, NY 11901
Phone: (631) 369-2732
Website: www.tangeroutlet.com
Hours: SUN (10am-8pm); MON-SAT (9am-9pm)
This was the first vacation day I spent with my visiting family members and we knocked off one of their agenda items... the Tanger Outlets in Riverhead. I planned for this trip to be on a weekday, knowing how crowded and chaotic it always is on weekends. We had a nice comfortable drive there just after the rush hour traffic, easily found a strategically placed parking spot and browsed the stores without crowds.
Phone: (631) 369-2732
Website: www.tangeroutlet.com
Hours: SUN (10am-8pm); MON-SAT (9am-9pm)
This was the first vacation day I spent with my visiting family members and we knocked off one of their agenda items... the Tanger Outlets in Riverhead. I planned for this trip to be on a weekday, knowing how crowded and chaotic it always is on weekends. We had a nice comfortable drive there just after the rush hour traffic, easily found a strategically placed parking spot and browsed the stores without crowds.
I Am Legend
Story: 7Action: 7
Acting: 9
FX: 9
Durability: 8
Special Features: 7
Just the idea of a sole human left in New York made I Am Legend an interesting story. How did it happen? What's he doing every day if there's no one left to save? How can this all possibly end positively? I Am Legend is an excellent balance between sci-fi, action and drama. The sci-fi element gives us a sense of reality because it takes place close to present day and the idea of a mass epidemic is something that has happened before in human history. This also wasn't a cheesey horror movie with a dark motif. The daytime scenes looked like regular sunny days with perfect weather, again adding to the realism. The special edition DVD contains 2 versions of the movie... the one we all saw in the theater and and alternate version with "controversial ending." I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll just say that both stories are interesting. Only the ending is different, but it changed everything. I can't say which one is the better one without having read the original book.
The action consisted of exciting stunts involving cars (including a 2008 GT500), complex contraptions and fights between Robert Neville (Will Smith) and the darkseekers. The special fx were very clean in this movie... hard to tell between live action and CGI. Recreating NYC as if it was long abandoned was fun to see, especially since I live here. Some of the scenes were actual shots of NYC, dressed with lots of props. Those were blended with CG wild animals and darkseekers.
Naturally, the acting was great as Will Smith had to perform most of the movie by himself. As usual, he displayed a good variety of emotions. His character was both physically strong and scientifically sound. His co-star was the German Shepperd, Abbey, who played Sam. Sam acted as Neville's hunting partner, friend and balance in life. Abbey had similar challenges to Smith. She also had to display a variety of emotions in an empty world. There were action scenes where she had to fight CG creatures and growl at things that weren't really there.
The one odd thing about this DVD set was they didn't squeeze all of the media onto the 2 discs. nearly all of the special features are web links, so you need a broadband PC to access them. I enjoyed the informative "Making Of" videos... around 20 of them. There was one dedicated to Abbey as well. My special feature rating was a 7 because I would've preferred all of the videos to actually be on the media rather than Online. Also, this set didn't have an audio commentary, something that should be required for I Am Legend as every scene was detailed and interesting.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
NYC March 2007 Cast
Joining us around my cousin, Andrew's wedding events are:Uncle Mariano: Dad's 2nd youngest brother from Manila
Auntie Susanna: Uncle Mariano's wife
Matt: Their son
Margaret: Matt's younger sister
Jeremy (Jet): Cousin from LA
Matt's goal is to find electronics here that are cheaper than parts back home in the Philippines. Jeremy's has a list of architectural/historic sites on his list. Uncle Mariano & Auntie Susanna have unknown motives! And Margaret is here to find good clothing bargains.
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