Jan 31 - One month down ...

Cant believe I made it thru January, minus the first few days which I will complete in 2018!!


My original plan was a trip to the museum to celebrate National Inspire Your Heart with Art Day.
Possibly to Neue Galerie on Fifth Ave ( http://www.neuegalerie.org/)  that still has the painting Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I (1907) by Gustav Klimt on display but nope that is closed today.

So maybe the Museum of the City of New York ( http://www.mcny.org/ ) which is open today and until 6pm but instead it started snowing making for a miserable commute and not sure leaving work early to do a blog is such a good idea!!!!


So I am ending the month the way I started hot chocolate & whipped cream but this time it is for National Hot Chocolate Day and it couldn't be a better day for it:)

Jan 30 - Hmm Paris

Great way to start the week by pretending I am in Paris - it is happily National Croissant Day !!

Had my breakfast with a view this morning and discovered that it is not France that they originated from but Austria. Seems the croissant as we know it today was made by an Austrian military officer, August Zang. In 1939 he opened a Viennese bakery in Paris introducing France to his baking techniques.


So I don't feel so bad now about getting mine in an Italian place across the road from work:  Masseria Caffe' & Bakery  :)

Jan 29 - Puzzles

Today is National Puzzle Day :) Great excuse to get started on my jigsaw - problem is I started a little later than planned and lets say that metallic jigsaw pieces in this light is not the best idea?? But least I have started now lets see if I am done before the year is !!!!

According to the national day calendar website it was started in 2002 by Jodi Jill. She was a syndicated newspaper puzzle maker and professional quiz maker, Jodi Jill developed classroom lesson plans especially for puzzle day.

Jan 28 - Blueberries

Well maybe not just blueberries :) It's National Blueberry Pancake Day today..... After a quick search one option was Radegast Hall & Biergarten in Williamsburg and was very close to going but was a cold miserable day today and there are so many other places in that area I want to see so I will save it  for another day that hopefully involves bratwurst & very large glasses of beer.

Instead we settled on the next on the list and am so glad we did as have a new great brunch spot to visit and I will def be back - Community Food & Juice on Broadway bet 112 & 113.

I don't usually order pancakes for breakfast though whenever I see them I always want to try them but these were so good and served with an amazing warm maple butter.

The rest of the food was so tasty and next time I will definitely be getting Kirsty's order of a biscuit sandwich made up of eggs, chicken apple sausage, cheddar on a whole wheat biscuit with tomato jam & carrot hash, which she kindly shared - maybe a few people will join and we can do the pancakes as appetizer :)

Jan 27 - Cake

Cake day but not just any cake, happy National Chocolate Cake Day.

I was surprised that the places I went didn't have chocolate cake or know of the national holiday, and yes as it was pointed out at one place, it isn't a big deal, the banks aren't closed!!  But if I had a business especially in baking these are the fun days to push there are so many of them you could do but I am not so what do I know.

I did however find a yummy chocolate one surprisingly at the Amish Market in my neighborhood:

It is actually a small cake which my work mates were pleased to see I think !!!! And my work neighbor, shoutout to Ginger, has decided I may need to start a go fund me account in order to get thru the year but I am hopeful I will mange :)

It really was a good cake ......

Jan 26 - Feeling Green

Now I am not sure who thought putting National Green Juice day after Irish Coffee day was a good idea but it is done and will be put out of my mind forever .....

A yummy blend of Kale, Spinach, Cucumber, Celery & Apple !!!!!!

Jan 25 - Coffee: the good kind

Today's holiday was going to be bar based with an amazing friend, Patrick, to celebrate his birthday and am pretty sure he would love this national holiday but life gets in the way and it is only Wednesday but I did partake and bought all the fixin's to celebrate National Irish Coffee Day, though maybe not quite following the original recipe......

I will be honest not a big whiskey fan, I prefer a hot whiskey / toddy and my coffee with baileys but it was pretty good though I am guessing my pour was a lot smaller that the bars around here which is why I liked it - many would disagree that I got this the wrong way around :)

 A little history on this - it was first made by Limerick bartender Joseph Sheridan in 1942 in an airport  now known as Shannon Airport.

And if you are looking for the original recipe, here it is in Joe's words: 

"cream as rich as an Irish brogue; coffee as strong as an Irish hand; sugar sweet as the tongue of a rouge; and whiskey smooth as the wit of the land.

Enjoy

Jan 24 - The Elvis ...kinda

Happy National Peanut Butter Day .. now this is not something I ever had growing up to be honest not sure anyone in Ireland did, though correct me if I am wrong.  To me was always an American thing?? I am hit and miss with it still but if I am having it then it has to be on toast with banana though sorry Elvis no bacon ...yet !!!!!

Also there is nothing I can do with this photo to make the actual peanut butter look appetizing, best just not think about it :)

Jan 23 - Pies

Well today's choices are:
National Handwriting Day
National Pie Day


Think this is an easy one, though the big decision will be sweet or savory .....

And the winner is savory,  Shepard's Pie, mainly coz it was wet and cold and I had it pretty much made :)  So happy National Pie Day but don't worry there is another one coming up on Dec 01 and of course Pi Day in March there is a good chance that one if not both of these will be sweet ones..

And just in case you are wondering today is the more popular of the pie days and is sponsored by the American Pie Council since1986, however according to Wikipedia, the holiday was started in the mid 1970's by Boulder, Colorado teacher Charlie Papazain when he declared his birthday would be National Pie Day.

Perhaps when this is all over I will declare a National Holiday for something, though not sure there is anything not celebrated !!!!

Jan 22 - Blondes

Well today is National Blonde Brownie ( Blondie ) Day - took myself on a wander around the neighborhood this evening in search of a fresh baked one but it was not to be - I thought I got lucky at the new cafe O Square Cafe on 9th Ave ... not quite a blondie I believe but it was good

Jan 21 - Squirrels of course

Today's holidays were:

National Granola Bar Day
National Hugging Day
Squirrel Appreciation Day

Hmmm choices choices........

Nothing like sitting in on a Saturday night watching The Magical Forest and flying squirrels of course.

http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/magical-forest/

Jan 20 - Hmmm Cheese

Well I do love cheese and my local cheese and wine shop ... Vitners at 677 9th Ave, so today was a perfect day to celebrate National Cheese Lovers Day with some awesome folks :)

Started off with a little nostalgia and a reminder of home

Then off with the girlies to my fav spot to finish the night off in style :)

Was mentioned tonight if I would post the days holidays each morning so anyone following along can do one aswell and maybe explore there own neighborhoods and different foods etc. I won't say which one I am going to do but am sure those that know me well will have a far idea :)

Jan 19 - Popcorn

Today seemed so easy: go buy popcorn from a specialty store head home watch my new fav Netflix addiction the old but wonderful Midsomer Murders coz today is National Popcorn Day.

But little did I know there is no store in midtown and the popcorn truck that was parked just a few blocks away had moved by the time I finished work .. now I am not  the biggest fan of  popcorn so the idea of walking thru Times Sq to Penn Station in rush hour was just not gonna happen. So grocery store popcorn it is........

Jan 18 - Pooh Bear

It's Winnie the Pooh time :) National Winnie the Pooh Day commemorates A.A. Milne’s January 18, 1882, birthday.

A. A. Milne named the character Winnie-the-Pooh for a teddy bear owned by his son, Christopher Robin Milne, who was the inspiration for the character Christopher Robin. In 1921, as a first-birthday present, Christopher  received the small stuffed bear, which had been purchased at Harrods in London. Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga, Roo and Tigger, soon joined Winnie the Pooh and were incorporated into Milne's stories. Two more characters, Owl and Rabbit, were created by Milne's imagination, and Gopher was added to the Disney version. 

Christopher Milne had named his toy bear after Winnie, a Canadian black bear he often saw at London Zoo, and "Pooh", a swan they met while on a holiday.

Winnie-the-Pooh first appeared by name on 24 December 1925, in a Christmas story commissioned and published by the London paper, The Evening News. The first collection of Pooh stories appeared in the book Winnie-the-Pooh which was published in October 1926.

Brought to the United States in 1947, the toys remained with the American publisher E.P. Dutton until 1987, when they were donated to The New York Public Library. They are all now happily ensconced in the Children's Center at 42nd Street, their beautiful new home in the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street, which I got to visit after work today :)

Jan 17 - Bootlegging

Happy National Bootleggers Day -in honor of this holiday I went to Gallagher's which I had not known before today actually started its existence as a Theater District speakeasy for gamblers, sports figures and stars of broadway. It was founded by Helen Gallagher a former Zeigfield girl and Jack Soloman, a colorful gambler with a large loyal following.

See links below for info on prohibition :



http://www.history.com/topics/prohibition


http://www.history.com/news/10-things-you-should-know-about-prohibition

Jan 16 - Figs

Happy National Fig Newton day....

Decided to honor one side of this:  the figs but switched it out for fig rolls, the Irish fig newton :)

Jan 15 - Strawberry Ice Cream

Nothing much to say about this one. Happy National Strawberry Ice Cream Day..........

Strawberry Ice Cream, Graham Cracker Pie Crust, Strawberries, Caramel & Whipped Topping :)

Jan 14 - Visions

Hmmm today was a tough one my meal plans of a pastrami sandwich changed and I don't have a pet to dress up and it's late so Happy National Vision Board Day 😬

Wasn't sure if I could use this one but on reading the description think I pulled it off without even realizing :

"Vision board parties began in 2010 between a group of friends as a way for people to get together in a fun environment to set goals, cast vision and dream out loud in a tangible way by creating vision boards they then mount on their walls. Seeing their hopes and dreams helps set in motion for these visions to become a reality. Many actors, musicians, fashion and entertainment-based people have been participating in this since it’s inception. Vision boards help people remember their goals and visions on a daily basis"

So while I don't have my board actually done YET :)  I did meet friends over cocktails to discuss our hopes and dreams and yes winning the lotto and planning vacations count. See the evidence below:

Now if I could just remember what we said, thank you Alisha & Kirsty :)

Jan 13 - Oh Susanna

Today is a non food and spend no money on blog day; it's National Stephen Foster Day, perhaps you all know who he is, me not so much. An unexpected benefit of this project is discovering new and in some cases random facts on everything from oysters to milk to the father of American music - Stephen Foster!!

Stephen Collins Foster, (July 4, 1826 – January 13, 1864)  wrote over 200 songs; among his best-known apparently  are "Oh! Susanna", "Hard Times Come Again No More" , "Camptown Races", "Old Folks at Home" ("Swanee River"), "My Old Kentucky Home", "Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair", "Old Black Joe", and "Beautiful Dreamer".

His compositions are thought to be autobiographical and he has been identified as "the most famous songwriter of the nineteenth century" and may be the most recognizable American composer in other countries. His compositions are sometimes referred to as "childhood songs" because they have been included in the music curriculum of early education. Most of his handwritten music manuscripts are lost, but copies printed by publishers of his day can be found in various collections ( thanks wiki)

He died aged 37 in  the charity ward of Bellevue hospital in NYC,  an alcoholic, penniless and consumed by loneliness and debt, on January 13, 1864.

His death followed the completion of his last song "Beautiful Dreamer". It was said to be written two weeks earlier, Foster wrote about escape from bitter realities. He is said to have died with a purse carrying 38 cents and a scrap of paper reading "Dear friends and gentle hearts"..

I have tried to find the place he was staying here in NYC, where he took his fatal fall, I have found a reference to it , a hotel / lodging house in the Bowery,  but no idea where it was so am guessing that building is long gone!!

However there is one in Hoboken that remains:  At Sixth and Bloomfield Streets a four-story walk-up, a typical home in the area except for the small plaque next to the buzzer : ''Stephen Collins Foster, composer of 'Old Folks at Home' and other immortal songs, lived in this house during the year 1854.''

He was the first occupant 233 Bloomfield Street, which is now No. 601.  While living in Hoboken, or shortly before moving Foster wrote ''Jeanie With the Light Brown Hair.

Maybe a visit this weekend is needed to check it out !!

If you are interested check out some links below :

http://www.pitt.edu/FosterFAQ.html

http://www.post-gazette./Stephen-Foster.jpg

http://www.pbs.org//foster/peopleevents/.html

Jan 12- A taste of home

And no I am not celebrating Kiss a Ginger day I am sticking to another food fav .. National Chicken Curry Day.

Not sure of the origin of this holiday but who am I to question it,  instead I took myself off to McHales for a chicken curry after work, I recalled sampling the curry there once and had a vague recollection that it was good and thankfully I was right. The photo does not do it justice:

And yes those are fries with the curry which is traditional  -none of this rice stuff, not even half rice / half chips for me :)

Had a friend join me for this one, here she is showing off her curry eating skills, thanks for tagging along Kirsty lol

Chopsticks in an Irish pub on curry night hmmm how things have changed.

Jan 11 - Milk

So today was another treat - I took myself off for a nice lunch break to the most amazing bakery downtown, Dominique Ansel Bakery, and had a chocolate chip cookie shot which is filled with cold-infused Tahitian vanilla milk. Freaking amazing........

As to why today is National Milk Day: the first day milk arrived by delivery in bottles was on January 11, 1878.

Jan 10 - Reasons Why

Today is a reminder of why I decided to do this little endeavor. Generally Tuesday in NY for me is usually just another day.. You go to work, you come home you get ready for the next day.... but today I walked past my apartment to Grand Central Oyster Bar, a place where I have never been but always wanted to go, in order to celebrate National Oyster Rockefeller Day

And what I had was a perfectly wonderful NY evening in the company of a famous bartender Marcelo Hernandez :


http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20160921/HOSPITALITY_TOURISM/160929980/inside-the-grand-central-oyster-bar-marcelo-hernandez-tends-to-drinks-and-soothes-commuters-after-a-long-day-on-the-job









And of course some delicious oysters- a little history on these, from the great Wikipedia, as in fairness I did know much about them myself:

Oysters Rockefeller was created at the New Orleans restaurant Antoine's. Antoine's was founded in 1840 by Antoine Alciatore,, the dish was created in 1899 by Jules Alciatore,^[2] son of the restaurant's founder.

President Franklin Delano Roosevelthad oysters Rockefeller at Antoine's in 1937. Mayor Robert Maestri commented to Roosevelt "How you like dem erstas?", as the national press transcribed Maestri's Yat accent.^[3]

The dish was named oysters Rockefeller after John D. Rockefeller, the richest American at the time, for the intense richness of the sauce. Though the original recipe is a secret, it consists of oysters on the half-shell topped with the sauce and bread crumbs and then baked. Jules Alciatore developed oysters Rockefeller in the face of a shortage of French snails, substituting the locally available oysters for snails. Antoine's has been serving the original recipe dish since 1899. It is estimated that Antoine's has served over three and a half million orders.

Though many New Orleans restaurants serve dishes purporting to be oysters Rockefeller, Antoine's claims that no other restaurant has been able to successfully duplicate the recipe. es.

While many have achieved the trademark green color of the original—a color easily attainable by using spinach in the recipe—it is said that few get the flavor of Antoine's recipe right. Antoine's chefs have repeatedly denied that the authentic recipe contains spinach. A 1986 laboratory analysis indicated that the primary ingredients were parsley, pureed and strained celery, scallions or chives (indistinguishable in a food lab), olive oil, and capers.

Jan 09 - Apricots

So despite the fact that apricots are not in season til summer it's National Apricot Day !!! Dried fruit was the way to go and while I am not a huge fan I managed a few with some cheese and wine for dinner and my little neighbor loves them so she got the rest of the bag.....

Jan 08 - Bubbles

Not the bubbles you were probably thinking but what a perfect day for this one Happy National Bubblebath Day :) Also happens to fall on National Winter Skin Relief Day.. so pour yourself a cocktail of choice and get to pampering ....
Mine was a rather decent, if I say so myself, Gin & Tonic featuring from home (and the only one I can get here) Dingle Gin.

Stay warm folks and don't worry the photo is PG and totally safe for work :)

Jan 07 -Tempura

Today's weather changed the plans a bit, so couldn't go shopping to find what would no doubt become a prized possession, a bobblehead, to celebrate National Bobblehead day - was so bummed !!!!

Luckily there are many restaurants in hells kitchen that deliver the other national day's dish : TEMPURA.

Batter coated fried shrimp delivered to the door in the snow - yes please :)

Jan 06: Beans or Shortbread!!!!!

Well this could have gone either way but I was out of Heinz beans so happy National Shortbread Day :)

For those wondering the choices in Hells Kitchen for shortbread are limited no bakeries had any fresh baked apparently they were not aware of what an important day it was so I had to hit up Food Emporium !!!!

They had a good selection of Walkers, some from a Brooklyn Bakery called Two Moon and Dancing Deer which did not make it off the shelf, seriously cinnamon in shortbread - just wrong!

Not sure my office mates are all that happy with my new resolution and it sure doesn't go hand in hand with my weight watchers plan but I will solider on .......

Jan 05: Whipped Cream Day

As I started on a whim today I really didn't have much time to plan for this one but thankfully I had an easy option available.

Today is : National Screenwriters Day
                 National Bird Day
                 National Whipped Cream Day

Easy choice and the heading pretty much said it all Happy National Whipped Cream Day and thank you Starbucks for your many locations, late hours and hot chocolate with whipped cream.

The Beginning

I was inspired a lot today .. firstly by a note in a magazine ( thanks Danielle) about some upcoming days, obscure holidays that you had to assume were made up. But no National Dress Your Pet Up is an actual day   (Jan 14 for those of you that are wondering)

A little research later was the inspiration for my new years resolution, I would pick one event taking place on each day and celebrate as best I can. National squirrel appreciation day , anyone???

After all every national day deserves to be celebrated by at least one person :)

Which brings me to my first ever blog - while I was going to just post the photos to Facebook or instagram, I was told, no, inspired to start a blog and showcase this little project properly, thanks Angie....

And so it begins starting today, a little late, thru Jan 04 2017, I will celebrate one of these events each day. I will post every day what celebrations took place, yes the majority are food based, but I will make sure to add some good causes along with the weird and strange to the mix - someday's I may even try to celebrate more than one !!!

I hope you tag along, maybe join in and share your photos aswell: Here we go..............